A former Britain's Got Talent contestant has been accused of raping two women, a court has heard.
Andrew Johnston, 30, who appeared on the show as a singer in 2008, is now facing trial at Southwark Crown Court charged with the rape and sexual assault of one woman and the rape of another.
Mariam Sayed QC, prosecuting, told jurors on Thursday: “Mr Johnston competed as a singer on Britain's Got Talent in 2008 and achieved impressive results.”
According to the prosecution, the alleged crimes took place several years later.
Ms Syed noted that Johnston “engaged in consensual sexual activity” with one of the complainants, but he removed the condom and the complainant “repeatedly asked Mr Johnston to stop” but he did not.
Jurors were shown a video interview with one of the complainants, in which she said: “He took the condom off without my knowledge or consent and continued having sex with me. Then I told him 'stop' and I said that five or six times but he didn't stop.”
The woman added that Johnston had one hand on her throat and the other hand on her arms.
She said she “hit him in the chest with both hands” and he stopped.
The woman told him, “When I say stop, you have to stop,” to which he replied, “Sorry, I didn't hear you.”
She later reported that she met the accused at a club, where he “groped my ass” and then “grabbed me by the shoulders and forcibly kissed me” on the street.
Another complainant told police she had consensual sex with the accused and asked him to use a condom, the prosecution said.
The woman said she felt the accused's hands on her neck and “no matter how many times she removed them, the accused continued to squeeze her throat,” Ms Syed said.
He then stopped and removed the condom, after which he continued intercourse and she “indicated that he again put his hands around her throat.”
Ms Sayed said: “The crux of this trial is whether there was non-consensual sexual activity and whether there was in fact sexual activity in relation to sexual violence.
“The prosecution allege that these two young women gave truthful accounts of what happened to the accused Andrew Johnston during their private meeting with him and that there are striking similarities in their accounts.”
She said the similarities arose “not because their stories were consistent” but “because of the nature of how this defendant sexually assaulted both of them.”
Ms Syed said the accused was arrested and questioned by police, gave a prepared statement and then refused to answer further questions.
Johnston, of Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, denies two charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault.
The trial continues.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
