Rape complainant tells court she had aerosols squirted in her eyes during attack in Preston

A woman has described being doused in liquid and blinded by aerosols as part of the alleged 'torture'Â  and humiliation she suffered at the hands of an attacker.
Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

Michael Joseph Ashcroft, 23, of Burnslack Road, Ribbleton, Preston, denies two counts of rape, as well as causing actual bodily harm and two assaults and is on trial at Preston Crown Court.

The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges she was attacked at an address in Preston, during which she was spat at and had toilet water and face wash poured over her head.

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She alleges her attacker made her “sit on the floor” during the degrading incident.

In a video interview played to the jury, the woman said he had ripped off her pyjamas that her grandma had bought her for Christmas.

She added: “ He made me sit in the corner of the room with my head down. He’d say ‘Move when I tell you to move’.

“He’d go for my kneecaps a lot, he’d do one side and get the same place again and again and again so it would make my leg more weak."

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Ashcroft is alleged to have said: “ I’ll make sure you can’t walk.”

Asked by an interviewing officer why he would pour liquids on her the woman replied: “ Because it’s humiliation, that's the only thing I can think.”

The complainant also said she had been whipped on the back with a phone charger and burnt with a cigarette, and described the pain as “disgusting”.

Quizzed about the sexual attacks she added: “I just felt completely dead, empty. I didn’t feel like a person anymore.”

(proceeding)