A student who is being cross-examined by a former
A student who is being cross-examined by a former boyfriend in a rape trial told the Old Bailey today (wed) how she drew maps of her home to show police where she had lost blood after he beat her.
As her courtroom ordeal continued into a second day she described how Patrick Simms, 35, made her strip naked to check for signs of drug abuse and look for proof she had been sleeping with other men.
Simms asked the 23-year-old dark haired woman why she had not called for help on her mobile phone while he was out or he left her in the car.
She told the jury she was too scared in case he caught her or checked who she had been phoning.
The defendant is one of the last alleged rapists in Britain to be able to defend himself and quiz the woman he is accused of attacking.
Simms then asked the woman if she had simply made up the allegations as a way of financial gain.
When she asked him what he meant, he stated that she had lied by saying she bought electrical items for the home so she could claim them afterwards.
She denied this and told how Simms had had complete control over her money and she had little say in what was bought.
The defendant the asked for the jury to look at a photograph of bruising on the woman’s arm and three small pimples near her elbow.
He said to the woman: ‘Do you know what they are?’
She replied they were a small graze, but she could not remeber how she had got it.
Simms then accused her of lying and said they were track marks from a needle.
She denied the allegation.
After more than six hours of cross-examining he was told by Judge Paul Collins that he had one more day left to question the Japanese student.
The judge said: ‘I would advise you to think more clearly and organise yourself and work out what you need to ask.
I will not allow any more time to be wasted.
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The attack is said to have taken place in July last year at Simms’ flat in Holloway, north London.
He took her to hotels in Brent Cross and Paddington to continue the assault, it is claimed.
And he also drove the woman to Bournemouth where he booked into an hotel and made her spend the night sat naked on a chair, the court heard.
The woman finally managed to alert police after begging staff at a housing office for help as Simms filled in forms in a room next door.
An examination later showed she was malnourished, had a fractured left rib, and bruises the face, arms, and legs.
She also had two chipped front teeth, and a clicking noise in her ear when she moved her jaw.
Simms was arrested the same day, but denied raping the woman, claiming she had consented to sex.
He also said he had not beaten her, claiming she had fallen down the stairs at his flat.
Simms, of Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, denies rape, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, and false imprisonment between July 2 and 13 last year.
He is due to resume cross-examining the woman this afternoon.
The trial continues.
ends
