Woman who rushed to help claims she heard alleged rape over phone

Wednesday 12 July 2023

A woman told the Royal Court yesterday that she believes she heard a vulnerable teenage girl being raped in a car park as she tried to contact her by phone following a text calling for "help".

Giving evidence on the second day of the trial in the Royal Court of 64-year-old Joseph Raymond Lloyd, the woman recalled hearing what seemed to be the sound of a man forcing himself on the girl, late one evening last year.

Mr Lloyd denies raping and assaulting the teenager, who has autism, after following her through the town centre on an evening last year.

The woman told the court that she had been due to pick up the teenager at 22:30 after a night out, but the girl said she did not want to go home straight away.

About an hour later, the woman received a text from the teenager, which read: "Snow Hill. Help," and then another adding: "Help me. Behind van."

She drove to Snow Hill car park but was unable to find the girl. She tried phoning her and said: "I heard a man’s voice making noises a man would make having sex. All I heard was this male voice, carrying on having sex."

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae asked the woman: "You thought she was being raped?"

She replied: "That’s what I thought, straight away."

However Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said to the woman: "You didn’t walk through Snow Hill car park and didn’t hear that noise at all, did you?"

She said: "I did."

The two States police officers who responded to the girl’s 999 call, PC Kesia Myers and PC Oliver Morris, also gave evidence.

PC Myers said of the alleged victim: "She was crying inconsolably, she was taking very short breaths and her eyes were streaming with tears.

"One of her stockings was pulled halfway down her thigh and there was a rip to the knee area of the other one.

"I asked if someone had hurt her. She said: 'Yes' and nodded, but it was really difficult for her to get a sentence out."

PC Morris added that when they arrived Mr Lloyd appeared to be holding the girl by her upper arms, and claimed he was waiting for a taxi. "He seemed confused by our appearance," the officer said.

The girl was taken to Dewberry House sexual assault referral unit where she was examined by forensic medical examiner Dr James Newton, who explained that he had discovered injuries to her private parts.

The trial continues and is expected to last three more days.

SUPPORT...

Islanders affected by any of the issues raised in this report can contact any of the following:

SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222. 

Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Confidential helpline: 01534 482800.

Jersey Women’s Refuge offer help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.

Victim Support offer free and confidential advice to victims of crime. Tel: 01534 440496. 

Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612. 

Samaritans offer a confidential and non-judgemental listening ear to people who need to talk. Tel: 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply).