A footballer is accused of raping a woman whilst his friend and former teammate, ex-Love Island contestant Dennon Lewis, slept nearby in the same hotel room.
Ashley Charles, 23, allegedly forced himself on the woman as she slept after a night out at luxury clubs in London's West End, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard, as per the Evening Standard. Charles denies rape and insists the claim that he had sex with the woman is untrue.
Charles and Mr Lewis, who appeared on hit ITV reality show Love Island in the fifth series, were both former Watford youth players and had been out at clubs including Mahiki, Club Maddox and Lords London with fellow footballer Michael Philips in March last year.
They arranged to meet the woman and her friend and went back to her hotel room at the end of the evening. Jurors heard that the alleged victim had consensual sex with Mr Philips but says she "woke up to find a male, Ashley Charles, on top of her".
PC Daniel Guy told the court: “Her friend had arranged to meeting Dennon Lewis, Ashley Charles and male known as Michael in London for a night out. When they finished the night out, they all went back to the hotel. (The friend) and Dennon shared the double bed, (she) and Michael shared a sofa, and Ashley slept on the floor.
“She and Michael had consensual sex before going to sleep. Michael woke up at around 7.30am and left the address, leaving (her) to get back to sleep. At around 8.15am, she woke up to find Ashley on top of her having vaginal sex with her from behind. She screamed for him to get off her, which woke up (her friend) and Dennon.”
Mr Lewis gave evidence via video link and said the woman was "upset" when he tried to find out what had happened.
“Obviously it’s a difficult thing to deal with – it’s a very hard one”, he told the court. “My reaction was ‘are you sure?’ – I wanted to find out exactly what happened from both sides. I was asking the question ‘what actually happened?’. Ash said nothing happened, he didn’t do anything. (She) was upset. I told Ash to go and wait in my car, while I sorted it out, and I spoke to them properly.”
He said his friend pulled down his boxer shorts to show him his penis when first accused of rape.
“He was saying ‘does it look like I’ve done that?’”, said Mr Lewis. "As a gentleman, you know, especially if it’s just happened.”
Mr Charles was questioned as police attended the hotel room after being called by the alleged victim's friend. Charles now plays for Wealdstone FC, who released a statement which read: "Wealdstone can confirm it is aware of the legal proceedings involving one of our players and that the player has been made unavailable for selection until further notice."
Mr Lewis told the court his friend is "always respectful" and outlined how they met through their careers as footballers.
“I met Ash through playing football. We were both playing for Watford from a young age”, he said. "I got to know him very well, He’s an unbelievable boy, very very polite, respectful. I can’t speak highly enough of Ash. He’s a very respectful young man.”
The trial continues and Charles denies rape.
