Mark Jones from Hungerford denies sexually assaulting woman as she slept

A WOMAN awoke, horrified to find she was being sexually assaulted, a court has heard.

She fled to a room and locked herself in, while her attacker banged repeatedly on the door, it is alleged.

In the dock at Reading Crown Court is 34-year-old Mark Jones, of Radley Bottom, Hungerford Newtown.

John Simmons, prosecuting, said the alleged victim had been to a house party in Hungerford where guests were drinking and taking cocaine.

She and Mr Jones began talking and, Mr Simmons said, “he said he was single and had been living with his father in Newbury.”

Eventually, the woman went upstairs to bed around 6am.

Mr Simmons told jurors: “At 8.15am she woke up to find her knickers by her knees and the defendant kneeling by the side of the bed.”

Mr Jones’ hand was beneath the covers and he was engaging in a penetrative sexual assault, it is alleged.

Mr Simmons continued: “She told him to leave and he said something along the lines of: ‘Are we cool?’

“Not wanting a confrontation, she gave a thumbs up and he said: ‘Cool - you’re such a legend about it.’

“She went downstairs and told a friend what had happened; they heard the defendant coming downstairs so she locked herself in part of the house.

“Mr Jones was banging on the door, telling her to come out.”

“[The complainant] texted a friend, asking him to come to the house; she was too distraught to speak on the phone.”

The friend came over and told Mr Jones: “You need to leave,” the court was told.

That friend also called police and Mr Jones was later arrested.

He was interviewed with a solicitor present and gave a prepared statement.

In it, he described going to the woman’s room and speaking to her.

Mr Simmons said: “Mr Jones said that she had said that she loved him, and that any interaction between them had been entirely consensual.

“He then answered ‘no comment’ to questions.

“Mr Jones says she was awake and consenting but that it didn’t involve penetration, just touching.”

Mr Simmons told jurors that swab samples were taken from the complainant but that the results were “neutral.”

Mr Jones denies sexual assault by penetration on a specific date in 2022.

The trial, expected to last three to four days, continues.