College Student Accused of Quoting Donald Trump Before Sexually Assaulting Classmate
An undergraduate student has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting a fellow female undergraduate student at the University of Lincoln in the U.K. on three separate occasions.
According to a pre-recorded statement from the victim that was played in court on Tuesday afternoon, the woman, who remains anonymous for legal purposes, says she was sexually assaulted by 21-year-old Hugo Penfold on multiple occasions between November 2016 and March 2017.
Lincolnshire Live reports that these instances of alleged assault included Penfold putting his hand down the victim's leggings to grope her backside while hugging her, as well as kissing her despite the woman rejecting his advances. “I would tell him that it was sexual assault and I would report him,” the victim told the jury in her video statement.
In one of the incidents, the victim said that Penfold quoted Donald Trump before sexually assaulting her. She reports that Penfold stated "In the words of Donald Trump, grab her by the pussy," before proceeding to cup her vagina through her clothing.
“He then grabbed my vagina. It was around the time when the election was happening. He touched me on the outside of my clothes," the victim recalled. "He found it funny. I said that it wasn't funny and asked him to leave."
The female student says Penfold later went on to rape her after a night in Lincoln Square. The two were watching a "Netflix cartoon" in bed together when Penfold allegedly began to pull off the woman's jeans, suggesting it would make her more comfortable. She protested, and audibly expressed the word "No" multiple times. Despite not receiving the woman's consent, she says Penfold climbed on top of her and raped her, suggesting he could "make it quick."
The victim told the jury that she later texted Penfold saying "You knew how drunk I was. You knew I said no," and that Penfold replied saying he was "Really sorry".
Penfold denies all instances of rape and sexual assault. He is reportedly accused of raping a second Lincoln University student. The trial continues this week.
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