Taxi driver Christopher Mace drove into woods and raped his disabled passenger on the way to her home, a court heard.

Mace, 33, of Charter Way, Wallingford, allegedly attacked the 27-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer as he drove her from a day at college to the home she shared with her parents.

The alleged victim had suffered the crippling disease since birth and had the physical development of a 12-year- old.

Due to her condition, she is forced to walk with the aid of a frame or walking stick or is confined to a wheelchair.

Reading Crown Court heard yesterday how Mace, worked for Hills, a Berkshire-based taxi firm, at the time of the alleged attack on October 7, 1997. It was claimed he urged his victim to keep "their secret" following the assault. Mace denies one charge of rape and one of indecent assault.

Joanna Cutts, prosecuting, told the jury of seven women and five men: "The Crown's case is that on October 7, when the defendant had collected her, he drove her to secluded woodland and there in the back of the car, raped her.

"He pulled her tracksuit and pants down and he had sexual intercourse with her.

"It was something she did not want to happen and given her physical condition, something you may think difficult for her to prevent."

The court heard how the alleged attack occurred shortly after 4.15pm as Mace drove along the B4009, from Newbury.

Arriving home 45 minutes later than expected, the woman told her father she had been delayed because she had a secret with the driver and they had been to the wood. The alleged victim, who sat in a wheelchair as she gave evidence, told the hearing that Mace took her trousers and pants down and then had sexual intercourse with her.

She said this carried on for half an hour. Asked by Miss Cutts if she had wanted this to happen, she said: "No."

The woman said Mace then pulled up her pants and trousers, sat her upright in the back of the taxi and said: "Don't tell your father."

When police arrested Mace later that night, the court heard, he told officers he had been delayed after his car got stuck on a mud-track when he pulled over to go to the toilet.

Mace, who was 32 on the day of the alleged attack, described yesterday how he tried to get the taxi out of mud using sticks, and eventually some sawdust from a nearby log, to give the tyres some traction.

Asked by Zoe Smith, defending, if he had ever touched the alleged victim, Mace replied: "I just touched her on the arm and said 'Don't worry, we will get out of this'". He denied removing any of his or the woman's clothing.

Mace had told the police he had been delayed in traffic after becoming stuck behind a lorry and a tractor, but he admitted yesterday this had been a lie.

He told the jury: "I felt embarrassed about getting the car stuck. I had had several breakdowns in the car I was in.

"I didn't want the mechanic coming out. I didn't want the other drivers taking the mickey out of me. I thought it would just be embarrassing."

Mace added that he had never been attracted to the woman and had not had much conversation with her because he couldn't understand very much of what she had said.

Mace denies rape and indecent assault.

The case continues.

Story date: Friday 29 January

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