In a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, a teenage girl tearfully testified that she never consented to sexual activity with three boys aged 12, 13, and 14, who are accused of raping her. The court previously heard that the boys allegedly assaulted the girl in bushes, with part of the incident recorded on a mobile phone and shared among themselves and others.
The boys, whose identities are protected, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Two of them, now aged 15 and 16, are currently standing trial, while the third, who was 12 at the time of the incident, has been deemed unfit to stand trial.
The girl, whose identity is also legally protected, stated that the assault took place near the Newbold tram stop in Rochdale in February 2024. She described how the boys allegedly took turns assaulting her and switching positions during the attack.
During the trial proceedings, the girl denied having any prior relationship with the boys and stated that she did not engage in any flirtatious behavior with them. She recounted feeling uncomfortable when one of the boys put his arm around her as they walked towards the bushes.
The girl emphasized that she did not give consent to the sexual activity and expressed shock and discomfort during the assault. She also revealed that her reluctance to report the incident immediately was due to not wanting to cause trouble and keep the matter private.
When questioned by the defense, the girl reiterated that she did not consent to any sexual activity and denied interacting willingly with the boys during the assault. The court also heard testimony from the girl’s friend, who intervened to stop the assault and described the distressing events that unfolded that night.
Prosecutors argued that the boys were aware of the lack of consent during the assault and emphasized the seriousness of the charges, including multiple counts of rape. The trial is ongoing as the prosecution presents evidence and witnesses to establish the events surrounding the alleged assault.
