A Royal Marines captain has been accused of raping a woman at a military base, despite her repeatedly telling him 'no, no, stop,' a court has heard.
Trial Details
Ricky Shepherd, 47, is standing trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, facing charges of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration, and sexual assault. The alleged incident occurred in the early hours of November 24, 2023, at a military base in Dorset.
Prosecutor Richard Onslow told the court that the defendant met the complainant while she was socialising at an officers' mess bar. She decided to sleep on a sofa in the mess and informed Shepherd of this before he left the bar.
Mr Onslow stated that Shepherd sent the complainant a WhatsApp message wishing her goodnight, to which she replied that she was about to go home. He then invited her to stay with him, messaging: 'We fancy each other, right?' She responded: 'Yes but I just want to sleep.'
Shepherd later messaged: 'You can sleep in my bed,' and the complainant replied: 'That will do but I really just want to sleep.'
Alleged Assault
The prosecutor said the defendant directed the complainant to his room, where he greeted her in his shirt and trousers and offered her a beer, which she refused. She told him nothing was going to happen, removed her clothes including her underwear, and lay at the edge of the bed. She felt him grinding against her and said: 'Thank you but no.'
Mr Onslow described how Shepherd 'grabbed her chest' and made repeated attempts to have sex. The complainant froze, unsure of what to do or how others might react. She said Shepherd was 'completely and utterly focused' on having sex and seemed not to listen when she said: 'No look I do not want to.'
The prosecutor added that when Shepherd asked for oral sex, the complainant threatened to bite his penis off if he tried. After falling asleep, Shepherd allegedly tried again in the early morning, holding her down. The more she said no and tried to wriggle away, the more aroused he became. She eventually decided to 'get it over with,' which the Crown argues does not constitute true consent.
Aftermath and Defence
In the morning, Shepherd was described as 'chatty' as he drove the complainant to her car. The prosecutor emphasised: 'This is a case where the defendant simply ignored a woman saying: No, no, stop it, he just carried on regardless.'
Shepherd told police the sex was consensual and suggested the complainant may have accused him because she was embarrassed or worried about being seen leaving his room.
The complainant reported the incident to two people the following day and attended a sexual assault referral centre, where photographs showed bruising on her chest, legs, and arms. She made a formal complaint to police in January 2024.
Shepherd, who was based at Hamworthy, Poole, denies all charges. The trial continues.
