Man accused of raping girlfriend's pal

A young northern Wairarapa man went on trial today for raping his girlfriend's pal after luring her with promises of marriage and love.

The 23-year-old man, who has name suppression, has pleaded not guilty in Wellington District Court today to sexual violation by rape on October 18, 2009.

Crown prosecutor Dale La Hood told the jury the man stole the then 16-year-old virgin's phone number from his girlfriend's mobile and began a "relationship of sorts" with her.

For a while they had only held hands, kissed and hugged.

Then on October 18, the accused told the girl through several text messages he loved her, wanted to marry her, and they should "go somewhere and have quick sex".

The girl wrote back she loved him and wanted to marry him too, but didn't think it would be a good idea to have sex and was scared, the jury heard.

But the man persisted and she relented, but later changed her mind, Mr La Hood said.

She sent a text back, saying she was vomiting and did not want to have sex. He said the relationship was over because she was "mucking him around".

The couple agreed to meet, and the man drove to Masterton. They headed to a park and he asked the girl to get in the back seat of his car to cuddle.

Instead the man began to rape her - she asked him to stop numerous times, but he didn't, Mr La Hood said.

The defendant's counsel, Ken Daniels, told the jury the man did have sex with the girl, but it was "very much" consensual.

She helped set up the meeting and made sure there was a blanket to cover up. This was not a case of a young man driving to have sex with her against her will, he said.

The trial is expected to last three days.

- NZPA