Shropshire university student denies Newport rape
A former Shropshire university student has denied raping a woman after a night out celebrating a rugby match.
Phillip Carlisle, 21, of Finghall, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape, which is alleged to have happened in November 2013, close to the Harper Adams University, near Newport.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, Mr Peter Arnold, prosecuting, said Carlisle had been playing rugby for the university team and had then spent the evening drinking.
By 2am he had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, Mr Arnold told the court.
The complainant was also out drinking that night with friends and had started chatting to Carlisle in a bar.
Mr Arnold said the two kissed and, at the end of the night, the woman, who had also had a lot to drink, wanted to find a taxi home.
Carlisle said he would walk her to find a taxi but instead walked her to the house he shared which was near to the university.
"Witnesses saw him pulling her along like a parent would pull a toddler," Mr Arnold said.
Once instead the house they went to his room and the woman alleged, he 'forced himself' on her, the court heard.
They were interrupted and she managed to get away from him, left the house and rang a friend in tears.
The defendant told police that the two had had sex but that it had been consensual.
He said he remembered an argument and telling the woman to get out of the house.
The hearing continues.
