Conwy council chief Byron Davies 'raped drunk woman' Published duration 24 January 2011

image caption Byron James Davies pictured at an earlier court hearing

A council chief executive has gone on trial accused of raping a 26-year-old married woman he met at a bar.

Byron James Davies, 52, who denies the charge, said the woman, who also worked for Conwy council, willingly went back to his flat and had sex.

The jury at Mold Crown Court has been told she had no recollection of events and was too drunk to consent to sex.

The prosecution said she recalled Mr Davies, of Yelverton, Devon, "coming on to her" and recalled pushing him off.

The woman had arranged to meet a male friend on the evening of the alleged rape, 23 March.

Her husband, who was away, was aware of the arrangement, the court heard.

The complainant and the friend met at a pub in Conwy and had two or three bottles of lager, before going for a curry where they shared two bottles of wine.

The court heard they eventually went to The Castle Hotel where she had half a pint of strong beer before her friend left.

On the way out later, she asked the defendant, who was sitting alone, if he was Byron Davies because she believed she recognised him.

They carried on talking, although prosecuting barrister John Philpotts said that had not been her initial intention, and Mr Davies bought her another of the strong beers.

The jury heard she formed the impression he was a nice man, and there was no suggestion as far as she was concerned that he was interested in her sexually.

She did not intend to give the impression that she was interested in him either, Mr Philpotts said.

She recalled leaving The Castle Hotel in the defendant's car, and recollected being at his apartment.

"She remembers the kitchen, she recalled, in her words, Mr Davies coming on to her and kissing her on the lips, and she recalls pushing him off," said Mr Philpotts.

The next thing she remembered was being woken up by the defendant tapping her on the shoulder and telling her that it was 6am or 6.30am.

'Happily married'

Mr Philpotts said Mr Davies suggested they should have another "quick one" before going to work but the complainant got out of bed and told him he had the wrong idea about her.

She left, refusing his offer of a lift home.

When she was examined the following day after her husband had contacted the police, she was found to have bruising to her thigh and her left kneecap, but nothing else of significance.

A number of samples and swabs were taken which showed that the defendant did have intercourse with her.

During a video interview with police she said: "I feel I've been so stupid because I'm not the kind of person who just sleeps with men, it is just not me.

"I got married in May. I am happily married, there is no reason for me to have gone back [to his flat], it doesn't make sense to me.

'Wrong opinion'

"I don't remember the journey. I remember the kitchen.

"At one point I remember he was kissing me and I was pushing him off. He kept grabbing me and I told him: 'I am a married woman, I am not interested, you have the wrong opinion of me."

Mr Davies was arrested at his flat on 25 March and in interview he denied rape.

He said that the woman asked him more than once whether he had a room at the hotel before he said she willingly accompanied him to his flat.

They kissed, at her request he made her a beaker of tea, he touched her intimately before carrying her with her consent into the bedroom.