A showjumper threw away his mobile phone and burned his mattress days before being arrested over an alleged threesome with an underage girl and a fellow rider, a court has heard.
Horse-riding instructor Guy Simmonds, 37, and Lauren Jarvis, 26, are accused of having sex with a schoolgirl in January last year despite knowing she was under 16. Simmonds, who ran a riding school in Undy, Monmouthshire, faces six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Jarvis, from Newport, faces one count. Both have denied the charges.
Cardiff Crown Court was played a police interview in which Simmonds claimed he disposed of his phone at a Tesco because it was broken, and burned or threw away the mattress allegedly used in the abuse because it was 'covered in faeces and urine from mice'. He said he did not know the girl would be at Jarvis's home, but texts showed he asked: '[The child's name] there yet? Don't want to turn up the same time her mum drops her off.'
Prosecutor James Hartson said Simmonds and Jarvis had a threesome with the victim despite having 'no doubt at all' about her age. The court heard Simmonds messaged Jarvis '5.30 for fun?' and after the alleged abuse texted: 'You both loved that haha.' Jarvis replied: 'Yeah, you missed round two [wink emoji] xx.' Simmonds answered 'no comment' when asked to explain the messages.
The trial continues.
