A MAN accused of raping a woman in Headington lacked “courage and decency” after failing to take the stand, a prosecutor said.

Catalin Horhota, of no fixed address, is accused of one count of rape, two counts of attempted rape, four counts of sexual assault, one count of exposure and one count of burglary between September 17 and September 22 last year.

During the trial, jurors heard two women were allegedly attacked in Headington between September 18 and September 21, with a third women allegedly sexually assaulted on September 21 in South Park.

Horhota, who denies the charges, refused to give evidence on the fourth day of his trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Timothy Clark said the 42-year-old failed to give his account of the incidents because it would land him in even more difficulty “than he is in now”.

He added: “He has had the lack of courage and decency to put forward a defence and the lack of courage to admit he is guilty.

“Not only did he assault these women, he will not now admit he did that.”

The prosecutor said scientific evidence in the case was “totally overwhelming”, telling jurors Horhota’s fingerprints and footprints were found at the scene of an alleged burglary in Morrell Avenue and at the scene of the alleged rape.

He also branded interviews with officers at the time of his arrest a “pack of lies”, after he told police he had not entered any houses since being in Oxford.

Mr Clark added: “The footprints obviously clearly show that is a lie.”

In her closing speech, defence barrister Trudi Yateman said the Romanian defendant, who has “previous good character”, did not have to prove he is not guilty of the charges. She added: “The Crown has to prove that he is guilty.”

Ms Yateman said the first victim, who Horhota allegedly raped and sexually assaulted, did not tell officers the man who attacked her had an accent, despite speaking with him on four occasions.

Judge Peter Ross is expected to begin summing up the case on Monday.