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Aussie cricketer allegedly raped a sleeping woman; on trial in UK

Australian cricket player Alex Hepburn allegedly raped a woman after helping to set up a sexual conquest "game" with friends on WhatsApp, an English court heard.

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Australian cricket player Alex Hepburn allegedly raped a woman after helping to set up a sexual conquest "game" with friends on WhatsApp, an English court heard.

The Worcestershire CCC all-rounder is alleged to have attacked the woman in a dark bedroom shortly after she had consensual sex with one of his teammates, Joe Clarke in Worcester in April 2017.

According to prosecution lawyer Miranda Moore QC, the alleged victim realised she was not with Clarke, when she touched Hepburn's hair and when he spoke in an Australian accent.

The victim thought she was still in bed with Clarke – who had left the room to be sick – but after waking up, she found the 23-year-old performing a sex act on her.

Moore told Worcester Crown Court that member of the public had dialled 999 after the victim – who cannot be identified – was found "distressed and crying" on the street.

While describing the aftermath, Moore told the jury: “Immediately she pulls away, she says: ‘Where’s Joe?’

“Hepburn says to her, ‘You are beautiful’ and tries to encourage her to continue having sex with him but she is having absolutely none of it.”

The victim told Hepburn he was a “sick bastard” and immediately phoned a friend to tell her about the alleged rape.

Moore also took the jurors through WhatsApp messages found on Hepburn’s mobile. A “stat chat” group in which he took part in was set up to record details of women its members had slept with.

The court was told references had been made in the WhatsApp group to “freshies” and “re-heats”, alleged to relate to women its members had or had not slept with previously.

After taking the jury through “rules” posted on the group days before the alleged rape, Moore told the court: “From the prosecution point of view, it may well be that what was on this defendant’s phone will help you in deciding what he was up to that night.

“It detailed the game that these young men engaged in and intended to follow. This game had precious little to do with cricket.”

Among the rules was a request for “every freshie” to be “rated out of 10” and a stipulation that the “winner” be able to gloat and enjoy a free night out paid for by other members.

In the end, Moore said of Hepburn: “The ‘score’ that he hoped to make may well help you in the explanation as to what he was doing to her. He saw that girl asleep in the bed and decided to take advantage.”

Hepburn denied two counts of rape, claiming the alleged victim was awake and that initial kissing led to consensual sexual contact.

The trial continues.

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