James Brizzell is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court

by Keith Hunt

A riding stables boss has denied raping a mother after she went to discuss buying a pony for her daughter.

James Brizzell told a jury they started petting and it led to consensual sex.

The married woman has claimed she passed out after drinking wine at Limes Farm in Mill Lane, Hildenborough, in June last year and woke up the next morning naked from the waist down.

She said she had no memory of what had happened and felt "absolutely horrendous".

The woman added: "My gut instinct was something was wrong. I kind of remember someone having sex with me."

"she was getting more and more friendly. she would have her hand on my leg. she was not drunk…” – james brizzell, defending

Maidstone Crown Court heard she had gone to the stables with a bottle of wine to discuss buying the pony. Brizzell, 38, was drinking beer with staff in a cottage.

Danny Moore, prosecuting, said Brizzell gave a prepared statement after his arrest in which he said he was a private and religious person.

"He said he was in a long-term relationship for several years and didn’t want accusations of unfaithful behaviour to jeopardise it," said Mr Moore.

"He said any contact of a sexual nature has been completely consensual and there was never any issue about her capacity to give her consent."

Brizzell said in evidence they were all drinking at the cottage.

"She was getting more and more friendly," he added. "She would have her hand on my leg. She was not drunk.

"There came a time when we were alone. We were kissing each other. I can't say it was one more than the other. It carried on to sexual activity. We started touching each other. At that stage it was over clothes."

Brizzell, originally from Northern Ireland, claimed the woman undid his trousers and performed a sex act on him. He said they each took their trousers off.

"She got on top of me and we had sex," he said. "It went on for about five minutes. While we were having sex we were snogging. She was quite enjoying it."

Told it was suggested the woman was in no position to consent, he replied: "That is not true, she was totally content with what I was doing."

Brizzell said after having intercourse he put his trousers back on and told the woman he had to go home.

"She was a bit surprised I was leaving," he said. "I left a few minutes after. She was on the couch. I don’t remember her putting her clothes back on.

"She was awake when I left. I left her on the couch. I thought she would end up going back home."

The jury has retired to consider a verdict.