The 18 year-old somehow became separated from her two friends when the group were refused entry to Charing Cross superclub Heaven and she ended up in Victoria Embankment Gardens with a mystery male.
That man is still wanted by police, but Wesley Roden, 33, of Museum Street, Warrington was arrested the next day and has pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the young woman in the early hours of August 16, 2019.
Southwark Crown Court heard a ‘good Samaritan’ assisted the student when she clambered back over the gates to the small park.
“We were flagged down by a male and female, who was crying and incredibly distressed and said she had been raped,” Police Inspector Tariq McKinsey told the jury.
“She stated she did not remember much, but was in a park and forced to have sex against her will and while being raped another male, with a beard approached, and said: ‘Can I have a go next?’
“She said she repeatedly said no to both males and the second male forced himself on the female.”
One of the young woman’s friend’s told the court the trio had “pre drinks” of vodka, cider and beer as they travelled to the West End from the outskirts of north London.
“We drink as much as we can so we do not have to spend money,” she explained, but the third member of the group of friends was so drunk Heaven security staff refused entry.
They went to a local McDonald’s in an attempt to sober up, where they lost touch with the complainant and spent two anxious hours trying to find her.
However, she had gained entry to Heaven alone and was caught on CCTV leaving the club at 2.40am with the unknown male suspect, who was wearing a light-coloured top and who has been the subject of a police appeal.
The jury viewed CCTV of the male assisting the student climb over the locked park gates before he is recorded leaving alone, followed by the woman eight minutes later.
Her friend told the court the complainant arrived home the next afternoon with her mother.
“She said all she could remember was walking down a dark road by Heaven towards the park. She said: ‘I didn’t see the man’s face. There was a bright light shining in my face.’
“She said a homeless guy said: ‘Can I have a go next?’ and the other man replied: ‘Yeah, you can do what you like when I’m done.’
“She is such a sensible person. She had never gone missing before,” sobbed her friend.
The jury were played police bodycam footage of the then, bearded Roden’s arrest in the Charing Cross subway, where he was sleeping rough.
Lying low in London because he was wanted on recall to prison he gave the name ‘Mark Moriarty’ as officers said they were investigating an “incident”.
“I’ve not been involved in any incident. I’m f***ing confused,” he argued. “I’m not involved in anything. If my mum got a phone call would she be gutted?”
Moments later he said: “I’m walking off the park and there’s a guy and girl on the floor having sex, totally naked and they just carried on shagging.
“The man said: ‘Get yourself involved, get your pants down,’ and the girl said: ‘Get yourself involved,’ and is pulling at my pants.
“It’s the maddest situation ever and we both had sex with this girl and he was someone I did not even know. Is this something to do with that?”
When arrested Roden replied: “I’m not a rapist.”
Trial continues…………..
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