Man Accused of Raping Woman in Tent at Green Man Festival Sobs in Court
Thomas Mason, a 28-year-old man, broke down in tears while giving evidence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, where he stands accused of raping a woman in her tent during the Green Man Festival in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, last summer. Mason has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault by penetration, claiming that all sexual activity was consensual.
Conflicting Accounts of the Festival Night
The court heard that Mason and the complainant, who were strangers, met while dancing in a tent at the festival. According to testimony, the woman had consumed alcohol and taken ecstasy that evening. The pair began kissing and agreed to return to her tent, where they initially engaged in consensual sexual intercourse. However, the complainant reported that she found it painful and asked Mason to stop, which he did.
Prosecutor Clare Wilks outlined the alleged subsequent events, stating that after a pause, Mason touched the woman between her legs, slapped her face and breasts, and then raped her. The woman described feeling "limp" and "frightened," worrying he would become more violent. She testified that he placed her on her front, put his hands around her neck, and raped her again, before spitting on his finger and inserting it into her, and ejaculating on her.
Defendant's Version of Events
In his testimony, Mason, originally from Aberdare but now of John Williams Close, Brockley, London, described meeting the woman while dancing. He said they made eye contact, danced together, kissed passionately, and she suggested going back to her tent, mentioning sexual acts. He followed her, holding hands, to the tent where they undressed, kissed, touched, and performed oral sex on each other.
Mason claimed he asked for consent for intercourse, and she nodded. During sex, he asked if she wanted him to slow down and later stop, which he did upon her request, before masturbating to ejaculation. He denied any slapping, choking, or non-consensual acts, stating he left after she seemed asleep, kissing her shoulder. He sobbed while recounting how he learned of the accusations via a friend's link to an efit image and Facebook, describing himself as "distraught" and "panicking."
Cross-Examination and Trial Details
Under cross-examination, prosecutor Clare Wilks suggested Mason became rough after consensual sex, manhandling and slapping the unresponsive woman. Mason firmly denied these allegations. The trial continues as the court weighs the conflicting testimonies, with Mason maintaining his innocence against the serious charges. The case highlights the complexities of sexual assault allegations in festival settings, where substance use and consent issues often arise.
