Woman in Leicester rape case: I was brainwashed

A young mother told a jury she was "brainwashed" by a jealous boyfriend who repeatedly raped and beat her.

She claimed he locked her indoors for a week and took her phone and that she believed there was no safe means of escape.

Leicester Crown Court heard the 18-year-old was "terrorised" and suffered multiple injuries, including a burn on her hand from a pair of hair straighteners.

Giving evidence from behind a screen on the second day of a trial, the woman said: "I was so brainwashed I wanted to do anything to please him."

****Best Deals**** Van Insurance for 17-24 Yr Old Drivers -...

Insure365

View details

Print voucher

****Best Deals**** Van Insurance for 17-24 Yr Old Drivers - Contact Insure365 on 01782 898188 for a quotation, Free Legal Protection Included Valued at £25.00!

Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer

Contact: 01782 898188

Valid until: Tuesday, June 25 2013

The complainant, now 19, described being tied with her hands behind her back and her feet bound together.

She claimed her then partner, who repeatedly accused her of being unfaithful, then pushed her forwards and rolled her up in a rug, before beating her with a metal pole.

The teenager said her eyes and face were bruised and bloodshot from being punched, kicked and stamped on.

The jury was shown photographs of injuries to her head, face, arms, legs, chest and back, as well as a burn mark on her hand. Their 22-month-old daughter allegedly witnessed some of the violence.

The alleged victim claimed she took part in sexual activity during this time, saying: "I could have resisted and taken another beating from him.

"What choice did I have?"

Her 24-year-old ex-partner denies false imprisonment at their Leicester home. He also denies inflicting grievous bodily harm, three counts of rape and a sexual assault, between April 8 and 15.

The alleged victim, under cross-examination, disagreed with a defence suggestion the defendant was being wrongly blamed for an attack by an unknown man, or men, when she had stayed out all night.

She denied falsely accusing him to have him removed from her house as the relationship broke down.

She said: "No, he caused the injuries. He burnt me, he whipped me and kicked my face.

"He locked me in the house for a week."

She claimed the defendant let her speak to her parents and a social worker, but told her what to say.

She said she was too scared to tell the truth in case he beat her again.

She said: "I told her (the social worker) everything was fine.

"I wasn't going to tell her what had happened because he might kill me.

"I was so brainwashed I daren't risk it. I was so scared.

"I didn't have access to a phone or I'd have called the police."

The trial continues.