A man has gone on trial accused of raping a woman he met on Facebook. Alexander Hutchinson-Bernard is accused of forcing the woman to have sex following their online introduction. The defendant denies being responsible for any sexual assault and says he does not know the woman who has made the allegations and has never met her.
Hutchinson-Bernard is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court. Opening the case against the defendant, barrister Andrew Davies said it was the prosecution case that Hutchinson-Bernard and the alleged victim, “a woman who has had some difficulties in the past,” met via Facebook in February 2023. He described the defendant as a “sexually bully” who “does not accept that no means no” and who uses his physical strength to force himself on a woman.
The court heard it is the prosecution case that the defendant subjected the woman to two separate sexual assaults. The prosecutor said the first incident involved the defendant putting the woman in a headlock and forcing her head down to perform oral sex on him against her will; he said the second involved the defendant “terrorising” the woman by grabbing her around the throat before forcing her down on her knees and engaging in “forced oral sex” and then raping her vaginally.
Mr Davies said the woman did not consent to the sexual activity but the 26-year-old defendant “cared not at all”. The court heard the woman later made disclosures about the incidents which led to the police becoming involved. The defendant was arrested and questioned and gave officers a prepared statement in which he said he did not know the complainant and had never met her.
Giving evidence, Hutchinson-Bernard told his barrister Lowri Wynn Morgan he did not know the complainant and had never met her. He claimed the messages sent to her from his phone had not been sent by him, and the first time he saw them was following his arrest. The defendant denied having a sexual relationship with the victim, having rough sex with her, strangling her, or raping her.
Alexander Hutchinson-Bernard, of Bideford Road, Llanrumney, Cardiff, denies two counts of oral rape, one count of vaginal rape, and one count of intentional strangulation. The trial before Judge Eugen Egan continues as the court hears further evidence and testimonies related to the case. Victims of abuse are encouraged to seek support from various charities and organisations which are available to provide assistance to those affected.