Rugby player: Girl 'fully consented' to group sex

A RUGBY player has denied raping a student, claiming she was "game" for a group sex session.

Thomas Price, 21, is on trial with two of his teammates, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a student at Bishop Burton College.

Mr Price is accused of raping the girl, and fellow students and rugby players Stephen Johnson, 21, and William Robinson, 20, are accused of sexually assaulting her.

The woman has told a jury at Hull Crown Court all three befriended her outside the college, took her keys and pushed her into her room, where they sexually assaulted her.

She then claims they left laughing.

The court heard Mr Price told the police the girl was in a "good mood" and "game" for what was going on.

In his defence, Mr Price said he and his rugby teammates had returned to the college following a night out drinking.

He said they spoke to the girl, who they did not know, and claimed she invited them into her halls.

Mr Price told the jury: "We had not had a discussion about going into the bedroom.

"I thought it was more than likely we would go into the kitchen, as that is what usually happens.

"It is just something to do to basically chill.

"She seemed in good spirits, everybody seemed to be having a good time. She had not taken any offence to the jokes we had made.

"She just seemed normal, happy.

"We were talking. She suggested getting into bed. She raised her hips and pulled her trousers down."

He told the jury the three of them took part in consensual sex acts with the woman.

He said: "It then got awkward. It was a bit embarrassing and uncomfortable. We were giggling at the situation rather than at her."

He said he apologised to her the next day for laughing.

Mr Price said he was "shocked" when the police turned up to arrest them.

He said: "I have told the truth. I did not force her. There was nothing forceful about it. I believe she was fully consenting."

Under cross-examination, prosecutor John Thackray said Mr Price had only met the girl minutes before the alleged attack.

He said: "Just 12 minutes earlier, you were outside teasing her. There was no build up to this at all, no kissing.

"You took advantage of the fact she was on her own.

"You have weaved around the evidence as it has come out. You made your statement after you had got your heads together and decided what you were going to say about it.

"The truth is you got this girl back in the room to do what you wanted.

"You took advantage of her, you just used her, the three of you, to do exactly what you wanted."

Mr Price insisted they would have stopped if she had asked.

"If she had asked us to stop it, verbally or physically, we would have stopped," he said.

Mr Price, of Rotherham, is accused of rape and assault, Mr Johnson, of Tickton, is accused of sexual assault and William Robinson, of Doncaster, is accused of assault.

All three men deny the charges and the trial continues.