Teenager: 'I told ex Plymouth Argyle footballer I didn't want sex'

A WOMAN who says she was raped by a former Plymouth Argyle player she met on the internet has denied that she wanted to have sex with him because he was a footballer.

The teenage girl told a jury that ex-Pilgrims player Liam Head suggested they drive to an isolated car park because his training regime did not allow him to go to pubs or clubs.

Striker Head, now aged 21, is a former England Under 16 and Under 17 international who was a rising star of the game at the time of the alleged attack two years ago.

He was a trainee and player at Home Park before moving to Tiverton Town and Forest Green Rovers on loan. He is currently playing for his home town of Bovey Tracey.

The woman told a jury at Exeter Crown Court how she had known Head when she was younger but lost touch until he made contact through the internet.

They exchanged suggestive texts before agreeing to meet for a first date at Chudleigh. She said he drove to a car park at Chudleigh Cricket Club where Head started the assault.

She says she told him she did not want to have sex on a first date but he took her phone off her to stop her calling for help and then demanded sex in the car.

She told him the car park was covered by security cameras in the hope he would stop but instead he drove to a nearby lay-by where he had sex with her in the back seat, the court heard.

Head, of Newton Road, Bovey Tracey, denies rape and says the complainant agreed to have sex with him in the back of his car.

The woman told the court she had made it clear that she did not want to have sex on a first date and had suggested they become "sex buddies" and meet again the next night.

She denied boasting to friends in advance that she was going out with a footballer or being star struck.

Mr Edward Burgess, defending, asked: "Did you think he was quite hot? He explained to you he could not go to a club because he had football training with Plymouth Argyle and was not allowed to drink."

The woman replied: "He just said he was not allowed to go to the club for a few weeks. I thought it was a bit strange, but he did not go into detail.

"I'm not really interested in football."

She denied directing him to the car park because she wanted to find a quiet place for sex.

She said: "I suggested the main car park in town which has lights and where there are people around.

"I said the cricket field car park would be locked but he said he had already turned in there and knew it was open.

"When we were there and I wanted to get away I told him the club had CCTV camera.

"I said it had been burgled and I had read in the local paper they had put in cameras.

"I told him that because I thought he would drop me home."

Mr Burgess asked: "You were anxious about the two of you being caught indulging in consensual sex?"

She replied: "No I wasn't. I said it to get away from there.

"He said he did not want to get caught and drove off. I kissed him but told him I did not want sex on a first date."

The trial continues.