A disturbing case is underway in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where four teenage boys stand accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in a town centre alleyway.
The alleged attack took place just minutes after the victim was seen sitting alone on a bench, her phone having run out of battery following a visit to her boyfriend’s home.
Prosecutors say the teens persuaded her to follow them into a dark passageway, under the impression they were taking her somewhere to drink.
Instead, what the woman trusted to be a brief encounter reportedly turned into a horrifying ordeal.
How the Alleged Assault Happened
During the opening of the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Prosecutor Samuel Skinner KC described how three of the youths allegedly “took it in turns” to sexually assault the woman while she repeatedly begged them to stop.
The attack reportedly occurred on dirty ground beside wheelie bins, while other teenagers watched and encouraged the acts.
One of the bystanders even filmed parts of the incident on his phone, though the videos were not clear.
Afterwards, the victim made her way home visibly distraught, with cuts and bruises on her knees and other injuries across her body.
She later reported the incident to police and identified one of the alleged attackers via social media.
Details About the Defendants
The defendants, who were 15 and 17 at the time of the alleged offences, cannot be named for legal reasons.
Three of them deny rape, while the fourth denies aiding and abetting two of his co-accused.
Court documents reveal that the teenagers provided false names during the encounter and later claimed that the sexual activity had been consensual.
Prosecutors emphasized that the victim had only just met the boys and did not know their names, making her trust in them particularly vulnerable.
Individual Allegations
According to the prosecution:
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One unidentified boy allegedly initiated sexual contact despite her asking him to stop.
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A 17-year-old then reportedly raped her in the alley.
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One 15-year-old is accused of forcing her to perform a sex act.
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Another 17-year-old allegedly assaulted her in a different secluded area after initially appearing “kind.”
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The final 15-year-old defendant allegedly did not touch her but encouraged the others and recorded the attack on his phone.
The court heard that all the defendants and bystanders knew each other, but the victim had no prior connection with them.
Courtroom Setting and Treatment of the Defendants
Although two of the defendants have now turned 18, the court treated all four as children at the time of the alleged offences.
They were seated on the back row rather than in the glass-fronted dock, reflecting judicial guidance that minors should not be confined in the same way as adult defendants.
Parents of the accused attended the proceedings from the public gallery.
The Impact on the Victim and Community
The alleged incident has left the woman traumatized and highlighted wider concerns about youth violence in public spaces.
Passers-by who initially noticed her alone on the bench reportedly expressed concern, underlining how quickly seemingly ordinary situations can escalate into danger.
What’s Next?
The trial is expected to last three weeks, during which the jury will hear further evidence from both prosecution and defence.
Investigators are likely to present more context on the group dynamics, digital evidence, and the sequence of events in the alleyway.
A verdict will ultimately determine whether the defendants are held responsible for the alleged sexual offences.
Summary
Four teenage boys are on trial in Newark for allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in a town centre alleyway shortly after Christmas 2023.
Prosecutors say the defendants persuaded her into a dark passageway, then took turns assaulting her while others encouraged the acts and filmed parts of the incident.
The trial, which emphasizes concerns about youth crime and the risks women face in public spaces, continues at Nottingham Crown Court.
