A taxi driver accused of engaging in sexual activity with a female passenger claimed in a phone call to her days later that he got her home safe, a court heard.
Arfan Ali, 28, denies engaging in sexual activity without consent of the woman on Christmas Eve 2017.
Teeside Crown Court heard that the alleged victim, then 19, had been drinking with friends and had been put in a taxi after they became concerned about her.
Giving evidence during the trial, she said she believes her drink had been spiked in a bar and she has no recollection of what happened when in the taxi.
Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said Ali was the taxi driver the teenager was taken to and he was given an address of where to go.
But the court heard, the alleged victim woke up the next morning at a relatives property, which was not the address her friend gave to Ali.
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She discovered scratches and bruises on her arms and legs when in the bath and was sore so contacted NHS Direct.
They urged her to contact police and the jury was told after examinations that Alis DNA was found on her underwear.
The court heard that within days of the alleged attack, the victim started to receive a number of text messages and phone calls from Ali on a number she had stored in her phone.
Mr Dodds said one phone call was received after the police had contacted Ali, from Middlesborough.
The jury was played the 12-minute call in which Ali insisted he didnt do anything and got her home safely that night.
He could be heard saying: I didnt touch you or anything like that.
The woman told Ali she had no recollection of the taxi journey but soon questioned him about the address he dropped her off at, as well as injuries on her body.
At one point she asked: How the hell did I get a bruise between my legs?
The court was told Ali Read More – Source
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