An accused rapist told an Old Bailey jury today We

An accused rapist told an Old Bailey jury today Wednesday he
has no idea why a woman he had never even seen before claimed he
raped her at knifepoint.

Gary Oakley, 24, said he did nothing more than walk home from
a night out with a friend at the time the Thornton Heath woman
was being attacked in a darkened alley.

He was totally shocked the next day to find two policemen
thrusting their warrant cards at him and accused him of
subjecting the young mother to a sick sex ordeal.

The prosecution claim Oakley stalked the 24-year-old down an
alleyway as she walked her dog late at night then pounced on her
from behind.

She was then raped at knifepoint, subjected to another
serious sexual assault (buggery) and was then raped again.

She said he then tried to arrange a ‘date’ with her before
fleeing into the night.

The victim claimed she saw Oakley, who she did not know, walk
calmly across the road to his home in Virginia Road.

He was arrested there the day after the September 15 rape
last year.

Oakley, a former pet shop worker, denies the charges.

In the witness box, he said he had never been in trouble
with the law before.

And he told the jury the first time he had ever seen his
accuser was in court.

‘I’d never seen or spoken to her before.

No contact whatsoever.

‘On September 14, I was with a friend in a pub until closing
time then we caught a minicab to a kebab shop.

‘
The jury was earlier told that when Oakley was arrested, scratches
consistent with grappling with someone were found on his wrists.

But Oakley said he had been in a ‘scuffle’ with his drunken
friend as they walked home after eating their kebabs.

‘We had a cigarette then I walked up the street into my own
home.

‘It was midnight or just after.

‘
The visit by two policemen later was a complete shock.

‘I opened the front door and two officers were standing there.

‘Two warrant cards were thrust in my face.

‘I’d never been in trouble with the police before.

It surprised
me and made me nervous.

‘
The victim claimed her attacker was a smoker, had been drinking
and wore gold jewellery – a perfect match for Oakley.

Her description of the attacker’s clothes also matched those
he was wearing on the night and fibres found on her shirt
matched the material of his jacket.

She also said her attacker walked across the road from the
alleyway where she was raped and into a house with double arches
in Virginia Road.

That house was where Oakley lived with his parents, the jury
heard.

In cross examination Oakley said it was a ‘coincidence’ that
he had gravel marks on his knees, consistent with what his alleged
victim said.

He claimed they had not been caused whilst he attacked
the woman, but whilst he was kneeling in the road helping to fix
a friend’s car.

He denies rape and another serious sexual assault (buggery).

The trial continues.

ENDS