A JURY has been told a woman who alleges she was raped was bullied into making a complaint by a friend.

Yohannis Urrutia Castro, of Church Street, Watlington, is on trial at Oxford Crown Court and denies one count of rape.

The 33-year-old is accused of taking advantage of a drunk woman and raping her while she was asleep on August 3 last year.

But yesterday, defence barrister Peter Du Feu told the jury the complainant had been told by her friend that she had been raped.

He said: “She thinks she has been raped because her friend said so.

“Is this an agenda from a rather eccentric woman, being as polite as I can, that has just got out of hand?”

Mr Du Feu added that Castro, a magician and salsa dancer in his native Cuba, was being supported by his family and friends.

He said: “His wife says he is the nicest guy in the world and she just cannot believe it.”

Castro was released on bail and the jury is due to go out today.

 

 

 

Our top stories: