Man filmed himself ‘raping sleeping woman’ then ‘told her to check her phone’

In United Kingdom, A man used a woman’s phone to film himself raping her, before messaging her later to tell her to check her phone, a court heard.

The alleged victim only realised she had been raped after she found the explicit footage, it is claimed.

She had woken up in her own bed with Thomas Nicholls, 25, but couldn’t remember having sex with him because she was drunk.

Dad-of-three Nicholls denies rape, claiming the woman consented.

The court heard how Nicholls had grabbed her mobile to film himself on top of her while she was semi-conscious, Wales online reports.

His alleged victim was “sickened” by what she saw after checking her phone two days later and contacted police, the jury was told.

The public gallery at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court was cleared while jurors viewed the five-minute film.

Prosecuting, Carina Hughes said: “It shows her in various states of undress and there are graphic images of her genitalia.

“When she saw the video it was apparent to her that she had not consented.

“Despite its very sensitive nature, she gave it to the police.”

The court heard the woman had seen Nicholls while out with friends in Brecon in August 2018.

Miss Hughes said she had to be helped home after “reacting badly to alcohol” and was incapable of looking after herself.

Nicholls climbed through her bedroom window in the early hours to find her drifting between being semi-conscious and unconscious, the jury was told.

“She woke up the next day to find the defendant in bed with her,” Miss Hughes continued.

“He said they’d had sexual intercourse – that’s not something she could remember.

“Nicholls later messaged her saying: ‘Check your phone.'”

The court heard the woman found the video two days later and confided in her mother.

The woman sobbed during a police interview saying she had “no recollection” of telling Nicholls she wanted to have sex with him.

But Nicholls claims it was the woman’s idea to film their sexual encounter which he says she consented to.

The woman told police that Nicholls had raped her on three other occasions but he was “adamant” that she had always consented.

Nicholls, of Hay-on-Wye, Powys, denies four charges of rape.

The trial continues.