The jury in the trial of a Felixstowe man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl more than a decade ago has retired to consider its verdict.

Before Ipswich Crown Court is James Heathcote, 29, of Parkeston Road, Felixstowe, who has denied raping the teenager in 2006.

The jury is expected to return to court tomorrow (Thursday, December 14) to continue its deliberations.

Heathcote, who told the court his father Philip Heathcote was a victim of a terrorist shooting in Tunisia in 2015, has denied raping the alleged victim and said he did not know her.

It is alleged the 16-year-old went to Heathcote’s home in Parkeston Road to watch a horror movie and was sitting on his bed when he allegedly started trying to undress her.

She allegedly told him: “I don’t want to do anything like that” several times but Heathcote had allegedly persisted in the same way for about 20 minutes until she stopped fighting back.

Heathcote had then allegedly pulled off her jeans and underwear and had sex with her.