A HUNTINGDON man accused of raping a woman at knifepoint told a jury that he did not have sex with her.

A HUNTINGDON man accused of raping a woman at knifepoint told a jury that he did not have sex with her.

George Kibet told Huntingdon Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) that he met the woman on September 18 in Huntingdon while he was with two friends. The group picked up some lager and drank in a park before going to a pub in town. The group separated at the pub with Kibet and the woman returning to the park where they kissed.

The pair walked by the River Great Ouse, where the woman had a panic attack, but they progressed to Sapley shops and the woman bought a bottle of cider and 20 cigarettes.

They made their way to the flat where Kibet believed he was changing a jacket to a heavier one as it was getting cold and he wanted to go to a friend’s home who lived nearby.

Kibet said that they didn’t go to his friend’s house but stayed in the flat.

Kibet was giving evidence in his trial at Huntingdon Crown Court and said that the woman had cut her hand on a knife in his room when she was looking for something. The woman claimed that she was cut by the knife when she tried to take it out of Kibet’s hand.

Kibet said that while on a mattress at his mother’s home in Nene Road they “kissed, cuddled, drank, and talked”.

Allison Summers, defending, asked Kibet: “Did you have sex with [the woman] at your flat?” Kibet replied: “I didn’t have sex with her at all.”

The 24-year-old defendant also denied threatening the woman with a metal bar while she was on the phone to the police.

Ms Summers asked Kibet why it took him more than 35 minutes to unlock the door to let the woman out. Kibet told her that he was trying to find his keys which he believed were in his jeans upstairs and that he thought it was only five minutes.

Ms Summers also asked him why he gave a false name to the police operator. Kibet replied: “I really can’t recall.”

Kibet, of Nene Road, Huntingdon denies two counts of rape and one of false imprisonment.

The trial continues.