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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Stuart Hall rape trial: Broadcaster not giving evidence | Stuart Hall rape trial: Broadcaster not giving evidence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Broadcaster Stuart Hall will not give evidence from the witness box in defence of sex assault allegations, a jury has been told. | Broadcaster Stuart Hall will not give evidence from the witness box in defence of sex assault allegations, a jury has been told. |
| Mr Hall is on trial at Preston Crown Court for 20 historical charges of rape and indecent assault against two girls. | Mr Hall is on trial at Preston Crown Court for 20 historical charges of rape and indecent assault against two girls. |
| He denies all of the charges alleged to have happened between 1976 to 1981. | He denies all of the charges alleged to have happened between 1976 to 1981. |
| The complainants came forward after the 84-year-old was jailed last year for a string of historical indecent assaults against 13 girls. | |
| 'Surprised by allegations' | 'Surprised by allegations' |
| It is said the former It's A Knockout presenter groomed his victims and plied them with alcohol before he raped them. | It is said the former It's A Knockout presenter groomed his victims and plied them with alcohol before he raped them. |
| A statement made to the police by the ex-BBC presenter when he was confronted with fresh sex assault allegations in October was read to the jury. | |
| In it Mr Hall said he was "surprised" by the allegations by the two women who he had known for a number of years, the court heard. | In it Mr Hall said he was "surprised" by the allegations by the two women who he had known for a number of years, the court heard. |
| "I am concerned that they have been made only after I pleaded guilty to a number of offences and then was sentenced to a term of imprisonment." | "I am concerned that they have been made only after I pleaded guilty to a number of offences and then was sentenced to a term of imprisonment." |
| He said one of the accusers, known only as Girl B, had "offered her support" when he previously went on trial for 14 historical offences of indecent assault against 13 girls last year. | |
| The jury heard he also said his health was "deteriorating" in the statement made to police prior to being charged. | |
| The first alleged victim, identified as Girl A, told the jury she was raped at the BBC studios at Oxford Road and also at BBC premises at Piccadilly, both in Manchester. | The first alleged victim, identified as Girl A, told the jury she was raped at the BBC studios at Oxford Road and also at BBC premises at Piccadilly, both in Manchester. |
| Girl A, who is now 52, told the court Mr Hall would sometimes give her money after raping her and then drive her home in his gold Rolls Royce. | Girl A, who is now 52, told the court Mr Hall would sometimes give her money after raping her and then drive her home in his gold Rolls Royce. |
| Girl B told the court she was first attacked by Mr Hall when she was 12 at stables in the mid-1970s. | Girl B told the court she was first attacked by Mr Hall when she was 12 at stables in the mid-1970s. |
| 'Consensual sex' | |
| She also told the court the defendant went on to rape her when she was aged 14 or 15 in his BBC dressing rooms at both Piccadilly and Oxford Road. | She also told the court the defendant went on to rape her when she was aged 14 or 15 in his BBC dressing rooms at both Piccadilly and Oxford Road. |
| The broadcaster said the rape at the stables did not take place while other sexual contact was consensual. | |
| He admitted a charge of indecently assaulting her when she was 13 between January 1978 and January 1979 which was put to him before the latest trial started. | |
| Crispin Aylett QC, defending, said under the law at the time of the alleged offences he would have been charged with unlawful sex with a girl under 16. | |
| Last year, Mr Hall was jailed for 15 months for 14 offences of indecent assault. | |
| His sentence was later extended to 30 months, at the Court of Appeal. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |