FELIXSTOWE: A dock worker accused of taking part in the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl has claimed he thought she wanted to have sex with him because she smiled when he asked if he could join in.

Minddaugas Mickevicius said he had returned to his home in Holland Road, Felixstowe, after seeing in the New Year on the town’s seafront and was told by some men in the lounge to go upstairs and see what was going on in his bedroom.

He said he was aware that someone had brought a girl back to the house and when he went to his room he saw his friend Arturas Bagdziunas being given oral sex by the girl.

He said the girl didn’t appear to be struggling to get away and wasn’t being restrained by Bagdziunas.

Mickevicius said he had stood and watched what was going on for a minute or two and had then said in English “Can I join in?”

He claimed the girl had turned round and smiled at him. He told the court he had been unable to get aroused and shortly afterwards the girl had gone downstairs.

Asked by his barrister Martyn Levett why he believed the girl was consenting to sex with him he replied: “If she didn’t want anything she would have said. She saw me pulling my trousers down and she didn’t object.” He said that during the incident he may have touched the girl’s buttocks with his hand but denied raping her.

Mickevicius, 32, formerly of Holland Road, Felixstowe; Bagdziunas, 29, who was living at Leeward Court, Felixstowe; Edgaras Sliburis, 19, of Scotland, and Alvaras Urbonas, 25, who was living in Sea Road, Felixstowe, have each denied three offences of raping the girl in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2010.

The trial continues today.