Woman weeps giving evidence at rape trial of Brian Thrale
by Martin Jefferies
A woman broke down in tears in
court as she gave evidence against the man accused of raping
her as a child.
The alleged victim was said to have been raped three times by
62-year-old Brian Thrale, who is also accused of indecently
assaulting her.
Jurors watched a video recording of an interview she gave to
police in Folkestone in September 2010.
In the interview, which lasted more than an hour and throughout
which she is seen wiping away tears, she said Thrale "pinned me to
a bed and started having sex with me" in an ordeal that lasted 15
minutes.
"I told him to get off me but he wouldn't," she told a female
officer. "He said that if I told anyone, he'd do it even more.
"He said he wanted to show me what adults do when they're
older.
"He said it was nothing to be afraid of and told me: 'No one's
going to know because you're not going to tell anyone.'
"I told him it was hurting me. I told him to stop. He said it
would hurt but told me: 'No one's going to do it to you before I
do.'"
She told police how, after raping her for a second time, Thrale
"told me to put my trousers on and to go and sort myself out".
"I scrubbed myself to the point I made myself bleed," she said.
"I didn't want him on me."
Before he is said to have raped her for a third time, Thrale
allegedly said: "I don't get this sex a lot, so I'm going to get it
through you."
Canterbury Crown Court also heard how, shortly before the
alleged victim's 16th birthday, he performed a sex act in front of
her as she sat on a table.
Thomas Restell, defending, said to the alleged victim during
cross-examination about the first alleged rape: "I put it to you
that it is an invention of your own. It never happened."
She replied tearfully: "Yes it did. It's all true."
Thrale, of Marshlands, Dymchurch, is on trial charged with three
rapes and five indecent assaults.
He is also accused of five offences against a second person -
two counts of indecent assault and one each of sexual activity with
a child, sexual assault and exposure.
The offences are said to have been carried out in Hythe and
Folkestone.
Thrale, who is on conditional bail, denies all the charges.
The trial continues.
24/04/12
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