A court heard today that a lady informed an investment banker, “I don’t have sex with people on a first date,” before he allegedly sexually assaulted her in his opulent £1 million apartment.
Before forcing himself on the victim, Varun Venaik, 31, is said to have kissed and caressed her inappropriately with her permission.
After meeting the lady on the dating service Bumble, Australian Venaik is accused of raping her in his basement apartment in Upper Montagu Street, Marylebone, on July 31, 2017.
She testified before the jury at Southwark Crown Court that they stopped for drinks at a pub before returning to Venaik’s adjacent apartment.
“Do you want to come back to mine?” he said.
I said, “Sure.”
His apartment was just a few steps away. We went to his and had some small talk there.
“We began kissing.” That was agreed upon.
“Then he piled up on top of me.” On a beanbag chair, we were seated. We briefly kissed.
I commanded, “Let’s keep this PG.” I wanted to say, “Let’s slow down a little.”
“I changed into my undies.” I yanked his hand from mine. On a first date, I’ve said that I don’t engage in sexual activity.
“Fine, we don’t have to,” he said.
Later, Venaik informed her that he had to go to see a friend, so she went on her own to Baker Street station.
They returned to his apartment for dinner and drinks after the banker caught up with her and informed her that he had fired his buddy.
He began kissing my neck, the lady said. I suggested that we chat instead of kissing.
He pushed my underpants to the side and pulled his shorts down.
She said he raped her at that point. She said, “I kissed him before I left the apartment.”
We kissed as we parted ways, she said.
“I wasn’t sure whether I could get out. I was on the verge of staying. I tried to keep things light and amicable since I had no idea what would transpire.
After the event, she claimed to have texted him.
She said, “I sent him a message.”
“I claimed you did something with which I felt uncomfortable.” I don’t want anybody else to experience this.
Vaneik of Upper Montagu Street disputes that he was raped.
The trial goes on.