Two men are standing trial accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old autistic girl on a train travelling from Kent to London Bridge. Baryalai Rahimi, of Orchard Avenue, Ealing, and Mirebadurahman Sadat, of Anson Road, Brent, both deny all charges relating to the alleged victim, whose identity is protected by law.
Rahimi faces charges including rape, while Sadat is accused of sexual assault. Both men are reported to be Afghan migrants. The trial is being held at Inner London Crown Court.
Prosecution Case
Presenting the case, prosecutor Richard Witcombe told the court that both defendants saw the alleged victim as a vulnerable teenage girl on her own and decided to take advantage of her sexually on the train. He said they both sexually assaulted her in a number of ways, and that Rahimi took her to the train toilet twice and raped her there.
The alleged victim told police she had been approached by two strangers at a Kent railway station, identified by the prosecutor as Rahimi, 25, and Sadat, 29. The prosecutor stated that Rahimi was the first to ask her how old she was, and she told him she was 14. He said she will tell the jury that Rahimi laughed about it and said "oh ok".
Alleged Assault on Train
The court heard that Rahimi began commenting on her looks and became "a bit flirty", draping his coat over her shoulders. Mr Witcombe stated that the alleged victim was trying to say no by giving him his coat back, but he kept trying to put it back on her.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged victim recalled Rahimi putting his arms around her and kissing her. When the train pulled in, Rahimi boarded and sat beside her, while Sadat went to a separate carriage, as shown on CCTV. Rahimi then began to touch her intimately, groping her breasts, and she felt powerless to stop him.
Mr Witcombe alleged that Rahimi then raped her in the train's toilet, and persuaded her to return a second time, where he raped her once more. Upon returning to her seat, Sadat joined them, and one of the men allegedly told her that "we share everything, girls, drinks, everything". The prosecutor said Sadat then put her coat over her before coercing her into touching him intimately.
Defence and Denials
Mr Witcombe urged the jury to consider the dynamic of Rahimi and Sadat being "in cahoots" with each other, with Rahimi handing the alleged victim over to Sadat.
Rahimi has pleaded not guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual assault, one count of assault by penetration and three counts of rape. The prosecutor revealed that Rahimi claims the alleged victim told him she was 17 years old, describing her as "very forward" and stating she took his hand and directed him to touch her intimately. He denied raping her.
Sadat has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of assault by penetration and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. In a statement read aloud by the prosecutor, Sadat declared: "Although I have some memory issues, I did not do what I am accused of. I deny these offences. At this point I have nothing else to add or mention."
The trial continues.
