Plymouth teenager denies rape of schoolgirl

A TEENAGER has appeared in court in Plymouth accused of raping a schoolgirl.

Brenan Grenney, aged 19, faced a judge at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday over the alleged incident on August 16, 2011.

Grenney, of Embankment Road, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 but denied a separate charge of raping her.

The girl told police she was wearing a school uniform at the time of the alleged incident.

Llewellyn Sellick, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the alleged rape happened at around 8pm on August 16, 2011, and took place for around an hour.

Mr Sellick said Grenney had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis before the alleged incident.

The jury was shown a video of the girl's original interview with the police.

Appearing via a video link the victim was then questioned by Grenney's defence, Joanna Martin.

Miss Martin said Grenney had been drinking alcohol and could not remember the alleged rape happening.

She questioned why the girl did not want to speak to police about the incident, to which the alleged victim said: "I didn't want to think about it or go through it.

"I knew it was wrong what he did and if I didn't say anything he could have done it to someone else."

Miss Martin also questioned whether the girl had been drinking alcohol that night as well.

The trial continues.