Wife claims "gentle" husband not capable of raping teen

Thursday 13 July 2023

The wife of a 64-year-old man charged with raping a teenager in a car park defended her husband in the Royal Court yesterday, claiming that he is a "kind" man who wouldn't have been physically capable of the act he is accused of.

Joseph Raymond Lloyd denies raping and assaulting the girl after following her through the town centre on an evening last year.

On the third day of his trial yesterday, Mr Lloyd took to the stand to give evidence.

He admitted he had seen the girl after leaving the Dog and Sausage pub in Halkett Street at around 23:20 on the evening in question.

"She looked very upset. All her make-up was running down her face," he told the Court. "She said: 'Can you get me a taxi?' She said that about three times."

Mr Lloyd said there had been no taxis at the Snow Hill taxi rank so he planned to cut through Snow Hill car park and hail one from the road.

He said: "She grabbed my hand. I was a bit shocked. She asked me to give her a kiss." He admitted kissing her, and said: "I don’t normally do things like that. I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife."

She said the girl had suggested they go behind a parked van and added: "I thought it was just for a kiss and a cuddle."

But he said she had then initiated sexual contact, though he insisted that sexual intercourse had not taken place.

"Then she started to get quite agitated. I tried to calm her down. She was acting like she couldn’t breathe," he added. "I put my hands on her shoulders and asked: 'Are you alright?'"

Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, pointed out that Mr Lloyd’s account sometimes contradicted the one he had given police at the time of his arrest. Mr Lloyd said: "I had had too much to drink and my mind was a blur."

The advocate said: "You say the girl came on to you, she instigated the kiss, she instigated the sexual contact, and it was her idea to go behind the van. So you’re the victim in the situation?"

Mr Lloyd replied: "You could say that, yes."

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, presiding, asked him why the girl had sent text messages asking for help at the exact time that they were in the car park.

He said: "I haven’t got a clue."

The Deputy Bailiff also asked: Can you explain how the girl's stockings came to be torn?"

He said: "No."

Mr Lloyd’s wife later gave evidence. She described her husband as "a kind, gentle, generous man who would do anything for anybody".

She also said Mr Lloyd relied on Viagra for sexual activity but the medication did not work when mixed with alcohol, so he would not have been capable of raping the girl.

The trial continues and is likely to conclude tomorrow.