Man denies sexually assaulting girl in a park in Southampton
The trial continues at Winchester Crown Court
Last updated 28th Jul 2025
A 43-year-old man raped and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl within minutes of meeting her outside a pub that she was trying to get into, a court has heard.
Nicholas Foreman, of Christchurch, Dorset, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and four alternative charges of sexual activity with a child.
Charles Gabb, prosecuting, told the jury that the defendant encountered the complainant outside the Standing Order Wetherspoon pub in Southampton city centre on the evening of February 15.
The pair then went to Houndwell Park where the alleged offences took place at about 10.30pm, the prosecutor said.
He said: "At the relevant time he was 43, she was 14, the temptation that she presented to him he was just unable to resist and he embraced that temptation with gusto.
"In no more than 26 minutes, just 26 minutes it took from the very first time that these two have ever clapped eyes on each other to the time the deeds had been done."
Mr Gabb said that the complainant made an excuse to get away from the defendant and members of the public called police when they saw her in a "distressed" state.
He added that Foreman then sent a message to his fiancee to say he was coming home while he attempted to order a taxi.
Mr Gabb said that the defendant denied the charges and told police in interview that he believed that she was aged over 18 and had consented to the sexual acts.
He said: "He denied raping her but he admitted having sexual intercourse with her saying it was fully consensual between the two of them.
"The defendant alleged she had told him that she was 18 and he then subsequently maintained to state that she had instigated everything therefore shifting the responsibility to this child away from him, effectively saying she started it."
Mr Gabb added that the defendant had told police: "I do not believe in rape, I am a family man and it's just not something I would participate in at any level."
Mr Gabb explained that the charges relate to three charges of rape, one each of oral, vaginal and anal penetration and a further count of sexual assault by digital penetration.
The four charges of sexual activity with a child act as an alternative where lack of consent is not proven but where the sexual activity with the under-age complainant is proven.
Foreman denies all eight charges and the trial continues.