By John Connell

Last updated at 12:00, Friday, 21 September 2012

A Whitehaven man accused of raping a schoolgirl told a jury that she had falsely accused him out of spite.

Related: Cumbrian man, 41, repeatedly raped schoolgirl, trial told

David John Townsley, 42, also said he had been “physically sick” when he heard details of the claims.

Townsley, of Nursery Place in Whitehaven, has pleaded not guilty to six charges of rape and two of indecent assault.

The rapes are alleged to have started when the girl – who is now grown up – was 12 years old.

He said that a request for money may have sparked the accusations.

“That’s why she started it: because I had dared to say no to her,” he said.

Peter Warne, prosecuting asked what the girl would have to gain by making such an accusation.

He said: “I don’t know. She is vindictive.”

The court heard that the victim had discussed the alleged abuse with several people including boyfriends and school friends.

She also told a doctor that she had been the victim of abuse and felt angry, guilty, and unable to trust men.

Townsley said she might have gone to the doctors to make it easier for her to claim sickness benefits.

He said: “I’m the one who should be miserable: I’m the one accused of being a sick pervert.”

He also insisted she would be quite content to see an innocent man go to jail.

But Mr Warne said that Townsley was “throwing as much mud as possible” at the girl to avoid the true allegations of the abuse.

It is alleged that Townsley asked her to dance to Britney Spears and Bob Dylan while she was wearing her school uniform.

He said: “Do I look like the sort of person who would play Britney Spears? You can’t dance to Bob Dylan.”

The judge is due to sum up today.

First published at 11:29, Friday, 21 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk