Jane Andrews did not tell police that Tom Cressman

Jane Andrews did not tell police that Tom Cressman had anally raped her because she had bottled up memories of childhood abuse for 25 years, the court heard.

In his closing speech defence QC John Kelsey-Fry urged the jury to consider the former Royal aide’s ‘perception of threat’ after repeated attacks at the hands of Mr Cressman.

He said Mr Cressman had admitted both personal and relationship problems by agreeing to see Andrews’ councillor.

‘He had finally admitted to her there were problems with the relationship and that he had problems which was the first time he had stated that he had problems.

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The QC reminded the jury how Andrews had been diagnosed with depression in 1997.

She had revealed she was the victim of sexual abuse for four years from the age of eight including attempted penetration.

‘The prosecution allege murder.

They say Jane Andrews deliberately murdered Tom Cressman and moreover she was not acting to defend herself.

She was the jilted lover seeking revenge.

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But Mr Kelsey-Fry asked the jury to consider manslaughter if they thought Andrews was suffering from diminished responsibility at the time, given the medical evidence in the case.

‘When you consider the threat Jane Andrews claims she faced on the night in question it’s her perception of that threat that matters.

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‘Her enhanced sense of threat becomes very relevant in the bedroom.

‘Jane Andrews asserts she suffered forcible anal intercourse that morning.

‘Miss Andrews made no reference to this in interview with the police.

‘But I suggest that something is clearly missing from that account.

‘The Crown say the story is a total invention plucked from the air.

That is why she did not mention it.

she had not thought of it.

‘Nevertheless the Crown say it’s an invention to bolster her defence, all this anal sex business.

‘But does it? An allegation of anal rape would have bolstered her case.

But she did not tell the police.

‘It’s because he buggered me that’s why I killed him.

Of course it would help.

‘It speaks volumes of how Tom Cressman behaved that day.

‘The first person Jane Andrews even told about her abuse as a child was Tom Cressman, the man she wanted to marry.

‘It took her 25 years to tell anybody.

‘She was rather more innocent about sex than Tom.

‘She would not discuss details.

‘If somebody has been abused at such a tender age and bottled it up for 25 years do you think she found it difficult to talk about such things, such as anal rape?’

The QC reminded the court of her police interviews when she told detectives: ‘He was just being so horrible.

I just did not want him to hurt me anymore.

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When Andrews was asked in interview about their sex life ‘there was a long pause before the answer,’ said the QC.

Reading from the transcript of what Andrews told detectives, he said: ‘I have always given in before and I did not want to anymore.

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‘Something is clearly being left unsaid.

‘Anal sex is what they were talking about.

‘Members of the jury, if it’s a total invention don’t you find it a fantastic coincidence that after she made that revelation police provided further emails and evidence of a girlfriend who engaged in the same activities at Tom’s suggestion.

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The trial continues.

ends