A man, hailing from a well-known family, has firmly denied accusations of rape as he took the stand to provide his testimony during his trial. The trial, which has captured public attention, is being held in the Victorian County Court, where the man, whose identity remains protected by law, pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape.

The allegations against him involve an incident that reportedly took place in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024, at his residence in Melbourne. It is claimed that he sexually assaulted the girlfriend of one of his friends during this time.

According to the prosecution, the woman had engaged in consensual sexual activity with her boyfriend at the man’s home. Following this, her boyfriend arranged for an Uber and departed from the property shortly before 2 a.m.

However, the prosecution alleges that the accused deceived the woman by falsely informing her that her boyfriend’s Uber had been canceled and that he would be returning upstairs. This purported deception forms the crux of the case against him.

It’s alleged the accused then lied, telling the woman her boyfriend would be returning upstairs because his Uber had been cancelled.

Prosecutors allege it was the accused who went into the dark bedroom a short time later and pretended to be the woman’s boyfriend.

He allegedly digitally raped her but she managed to move away and ask directly if he was the accused.

The man claimed he was her boyfriend and he allegedly then grabbed both her hands before digitally raping her again while she told him to stop.

She managed to get a hand free and felt his hair, which was longer than her boyfriend’s, and that’s when the man allegedly stopped and ran from the room.

It’s alleged he returned a few minutes later and acted as if nothing had happened, instead asking her if she was OK.

Under questioning from the prosecutor, the man repeatedly denied he ever raped the woman.

“I never went into that room and sexually assaulted (the complainant),” he said in his evidence.

The jury was told the man doctored an Uber receipt in the days after to make it look like the alleged victim’s boyfriend had left the house after 2.30am.

The accused admitted in evidence that he forged the receipt but denied he did so to avoid taking responsibility for his crimes.

The trial before Judge Gregory Lyon continues.

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