Rape accused John Heald - sex was “consensual”

A COURT has heard how murder accused John Heald denied raping a woman, insisting: “if she would ever say to me stop I would have stopped.”

Evidence from the 53-year-old’s police interview was given to Hull Crown Court, where Heald, of Foljambe Road, Eastwood, is on trial for three counts of rape and one of murdering guesthouse landlady Bei Carter.

When questioned about the rape allegations, during his police interview, Heald said the sex was consensual and the woman had invited him back to her house and they had arranged to meet there.

He said she instigated the sex.

Heald told police: “No means no and if she would ever say to me ‘Stop’, I would have stopped."

The prosecution’s case concluded this morning, with Humberside Police’s Det Con Neil Grantham called as the final witness.

Det Con Grantham told the court of Heald’s rape denial, which came during five interviews between July 28 and 29 last year.

Heald denies murder and rape.

The trial continues.