A 16th BIRTHDAY party is the location an alleged rape which is said to have taken place in Oxford, a jury has heard.
Daniel Bucknell is on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with one count each of rape and attempted rape which are both alleged to have occurred on March 26, 2022.
The 28-year-old is accused of trapping a 15-year-old girl in a bathroom and forcing her to perform oral sex on him before trying to have penetrative sex with her, the court heard.
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Bucknell has denied the offences – telling police the oral sex was consensual and that the girl had told him she was 16-years-old.
Starting on Tuesday (February 27), the trial heard the house party was taking place to celebrate a 16th birthday party.
The alleged victim was a friend of the birthday girl and had attended the party with other people in her school year.
During the party, she went to the shop with Bucknell to grab more alcohol, which the defendant purchased.
Later in the night, the girl went into the bathroom and it is alleged that Bucknell followed her in, the court was told.
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Speaking to the police, the girl said Bucknell had locked her in the bathroom and tried to kiss her, causing the pair to fall into the bath.
It is alleged that Bucknell then unbuckled his trousers and forced the girl to perform oral sex on him.
She added he then tried to have sex with her but she had managed to stop him.
The court heard that friends of the alleged victim had tried to get into the bathroom, even using a butter knife at one point.
A crowd had gathered outside the bathroom, including the parents of the birthday girl.
However, the defendant is accused of telling people he was ‘having a p***’ before later saying the girl was being sick.
It was noted that, at one point, the girl admits she did attend the bathroom thinking she may be sick.
After the party, the girl messaged two of her friends about the incident before later reporting it to police.
Bucknell was arrested and did not initially comment before telling police he believed the girl was older and that it had been a consensual action.
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It was noted the girl had given Bucknell her number when she left the party that evening.
A DNA test was done on the dress the girl was wearing to the house party but the evidence has come back as ‘inconclusive’.
The trial continues.
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