Footballer Jack Diamond told a court he, “absolutely did not” rape and sexually assault a woman who had gone to his flat at his invitation, “for cuddles and a chill”.

Newcastle Crown Court was told the pair met on the dating app Tinder in late 2019 and began a relationship primarily revolving around sex, where he would contact her and she would go to his flat in Washington for consensual intimate relations

Having blocked her on Snapchat for a while in 2021, they resumed the arrangement late that year and in the early months of 2022, after he unblocked her.

Giving evidence at his trial, where he is accused of raping and sexually assaulting the woman, the Sunderland winger said they would usually meet at his flat about twice a month for sex during that period.

The Northern Echo: Sunderland footballer Jack Diamond has gone on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of rape and

He said the only time they had not had sex on such a liaison was the week before the alleged offences took place.

On the night of Saturday May 7, 2022, he said he went out with former school friends to a pub in Washington, where he had a few pints of lager.

On his return to his flat, a short walk away, he rang the complainant to see is she would like to go to his home, “for cuddles and a chill”.

She agreed and drove over in her pyjamas, before going into Diamond’s flat and joining him in bed.

Despite some initial intimate touching and feeling he said he stopped short of having full sex as he said he did not by then feel, “in the mood”.

Following some further mutual kissing, he said the woman stopped and told him “the moment’s gone”.

He said he went to the toilet and on his return to the bedroom, the complainant was on her phone before telling him she was leaving to go home, to which he merely said, “fine”, agreeing that she would lock the door and put the key through the letter box on her way out.

The Northern Echo:

The court was told that following her return home, a 999 call was made where she claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the defendant.

He was arrested later on Sunday May 8, 2022, and made denials to the allegation when interviewed, claiming everything that took place was consensual.

Following her police interview on June 6 and subsequent investigations, Mr Diamond was charged with rape and sexual assault in March last year, after which he was suspended by Sunderland AFC and a season-long loan deal at Lincoln City was also terminated.

Under his examination-in-chief, defence counsel Eleanor Laws KC asked Mr Diamond: “Did you rape or sexually assault (the complainant), he replied: “Absolutely not”, to both.

Cross-examined by prosecution counsel David Povall, the defendant was asked: “Isn’t the reality that you had got her around that night hoping to have ‘no-strings’ sex. Isn’t that why you called her?

Mr Diamond said it was, “a possibility”.

Mr Povall then asked him: “When she was in your bed that night, did you go too far trying to get sexual pleasure from her?"

In reply the defendant again said: “Absolutely not.”

He denied that he was then trying to teach her a lesson by once again blocking her on Snapchat.

Mr Diamond’s flatmate at the time, Anthony Patterson, the current Sunderland goalkeeper, then gave evidence to say he returned home late that night but did not see the complainant.

Despite knowing her, and having previously messaged her, he denied a suggestion by Mr Povall that he had joked with Mr Diamond about having a "threesome" with the complainant.

The court also heard from character witnesses, including Paul Thirlwell, assistant manager at Harrogate Town when the defendant was twice on loan at the club.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Sexual assault and rape trial jury hears footballer's police interview

Trial told accuser's relationship with Jack Diamond was mostly sexual

Sunderland winger goes on trial accused of rape and sexual assault

To read more online content from The Northern Echo, from as little as £1.50 per week, click here

He described the defendant as, “an honest lad, really humble, really hard-working, all the characteristics we look for in bringing a player to the club.”

Mr Diamond, 23, of Fatfield, Washington, denies rape and sexual assault.

The defence case will be concluded tomorrow (Friday January 5), with the prosecution and defence counsel’s closing speeches, plus the summing up of evidence given by Judge Edward Bindloss, on Monday.