'Confused and scared' woman told court she had to fight off would-be rapist in Leeds city centre
A woman has told a jury that she had to fight off a would-be rapist in Leeds city centre, and screamed at him to leave her alone.
Rashid Kwabena Boachie is on trial at Leeds Crown Court with attempted rape of the woman and sexual assault from August of last year.
The 44-year-old is also facing a charge of rape from 2021, in which he is accused of picking up a drunk woman in his car and driving her to a secluded spot.
On day three of his trial, the woman from Leeds city centre took to the witness box to give evidence.
She had been with friends on a night out before becoming separated. CCTV footage from that night showed her bumping into Boachie in the street, whom she did not know.
He appeared to lead her by the arm to Blayds Yard. She fell over but was pulled back to her feet by Boachie.
Appearing to lead her to behind industrial bins, the Crown say he then tried to rape her, before being disturbed by an employee of the nearby Travelodge.
She told the court she repeatedly pushed Boachie away and swore at him, but said he persisted.
She said he tried to pull at her underwear and touched her genitals.
During cross examination by Boachie’s barrister, Glenn Parsons suggested she was on her phone and swearing at her friend on the other end of the line, rather than Boachie.
But the woman strenuously denied this, telling the court: “I told him to get the f*** off me several times.
“That’s why the person came out [of the Travelodge], because they heard me shouting.
“I did not know what was going on. I was drunk, I was confused and I was scared.”
Boachie, of Ashby Terrace, Bramley, walked away from the area after being disturbed and was later arrested.
His DNA was taken which matched a sample taken from the woman in August 2021 who reported she had been raped in a car in Middleton.
She had been out drinking with pals in Hunslet and became separated. She ordered a taxi and when a car pulled up, she got in thinking it was her cab.
However, it was Boachie driving, and she claims he refused to take her to where she wanted.
He drove her to the secluded car park at the John Charles Centre off Middleton Grove, where he put the seats back and she says he raped her.
Quizzed by police after being arrested last year, he claims it was consensual sex.
But the Crown suggest that she was drunk and unable to give consent.
The trial continues.