Man accused of rape claims it was consensual

A man accused of raping a male teenager who he met during a Christmas night out has described the encounter as "100 percent consensual".

On Friday, a jury at Hove Crown Court heard Mark Lett had told police the 19-year-old had willingly performed a sex act on him at a bus shelter in the centre of Brighton on 21 December, 2024.

The 43-year-old also said during interview he and co-accused George Ellis, 41, then moved to a basement stairwell to have "a threesome" with the teen.

Lett, of Court Crescent, Chessington, and Ellis, of Lammas Lane, Esher in Surrey, both deny rape.

In addition, the pair are charged with causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence - which they also deny.

The court heard that Lett had travelled to Brighton with his flatmate Ellis to have Christmas drinks.

The pair then checked into a hotel before going out, and met the 19-year-old - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - while walking back to their room in the early hours.

Lett added that, after asking the teenager if he was "up for a threesome", the trio began having sex.

However, the jury was told that the teenager's mood soon "switched" and he began "thrashing around" and "punching".

"He was saying; 'You're trying to rape me'," said Lett, adding that he and Ellis then returned to their hotel to tend to wounds on the latter's face.

Lett, who was arrested by Sussex Police, alongside Ellis, on Boxing Day 2024, told officers the teenager had "instigated everything", but later "completely flipped".

The trial continues.

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