Man denies 'cabbie' sex attacks

4:56pm Tuesday 1st May 2007

A MAN accused of posing as a cabbie to pick up women he could sexually assault claims one of his alleged victims was "relieved" to be in the car with him.

Stephen Crawford is accused of sex attacks on three different women who were walking home alone after becoming separated from friends during nights out.

But the 44-year-old of Chilton, County Durham, today told jurors how all three consented to passionate liaisons with him.

Crawford's second victim, who prosecutors say he subjected to a five-hour ordeal after picking her up in Sunderland, has told the court how she feared she would be killed after accepting a lift from him in the early hours.

She wept as she told jurors how she was kept in the car against her will and sexually assaulted.

But Crawford told Newcastle Crown Court how after accepting a lift the 17-year-old told him she was unable to get in the house as she had missed her curfew and would have to walk the streets to kill time until her family were up.

He said: "I suggested coming back to mine and she agreed to that, she was quite relieved I think, to have somewhere to go."

Crawford said the pair drove through places including Durham, Neville's Cross, Willington, Crook and Stanhope, happily chatting about life in general.

He told the court: "You know, it sounds strange to say but you would think we had known each other for years, we were just cracking on, chatting about anything and everything."

Crawford said he gave the girl driving lessons on a quiet road in his brand new Renault Megane and the pair listened to music together.

Crawford said the girl consented to a sexual encounter with him when he parked up on a country road before he drove her back to Sunderland where she was dropped off.

Prosecutors claim the teen endured a five-hour ordeal during which she was sexually assaulted.

Crawford, 44, of Dale Street, Chilton, accepts he offered a lift to the teen, as well as a 21-year-old woman in Durham and a 17-year-old in Newcastle.

But he claims the sexual activity which took place was with their consent.

He denies posing as a cabbie and said he never had anything inside his vehicle to make it look like a taxi.

Crawford said he would enjoy driving out at night looking for "boy racers" and enthusiasts who shared his passion for cars.

Crawford denies five charges including sexual assault and false imprisonment as well as one of rape.

The trial continues.