James Brizzell is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court

by Keith Hunt

A mother was raped by a horse trader after she went to his stables to discuss buying a pony for her daughter, a court heard.

The married woman claimed she passed out after drinking wine at James Brizzell's Hildenborough premises and woke up the next morning half naked.

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

"My gut instinct was something was wrong," she said in a police interview. "I kind of remember someone having sex with me. I can't tell you who."

Maidstone Crown Court was told that when the woman confronted Brizzell - known as Chuck - he said she had passed out and he put a blanket over her and left.

But after the woman was medically examined and his DNA was found, he claimed that any sexual contact was consensual.

Danny Moore, prosecuting, said there was no dispute Brizzell, 38, had sexual intercourse with the woman and the issue was whether she consented or he reasonably believed she was consenting.

"she remembers nothing until she wakes up in the morning at 5.50am on the sofa in the living room…” – danny moore, prosecuting

She had only met him a few days before the alleged rape in June last year.

Brizzell was due to go to the woman's home to continue discussions about buying the horse, but he telephoned her to say he had been drinking and could not drive.

The woman, who is in her 40s, drove to the stables at Limes Farm, in Mill Lane, instead.

Brizzell, originally from Northern Ireland, told her if she wanted anything to drink other than beer she should bring it with her.

She bought a bottle of wine on the way and arrived at about 9pm. Brizzell was in a cottage drinking with four employees, the court heard.

Wine was poured into a mug for her. At one point, she went out to her car. When she returned she was given a full mug of wine, jurors were told.

"This was at about 11pm," said Mr Moore. "Then, that is it. She remembers nothing until she wakes up in the morning at 5.50am on the sofa in the living room.

"She remembers her phone ringing. It was her husband asking as to her whereabouts."

Brizzell denies rape. The trial continues.