Kidnap accused changed story to police, jury told

Graham Head, 68, denies the charges involving two women

A man accused of posing as an Uber driver to sexually assault a vulnerable woman changed his story after telling police he did not pick her up, a jury has heard.

Graham Head, 68, first told police he had not had any interaction with a woman, but later said he picked a woman up near Brighton seafront and drove her to Hove, Lewes Crown Court was told.

Mr Head, of Pevensey, East Sussex, denies assaulting an 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park and kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman after picking her up in Brighton city centre.

He said he offered the 25-year-old a lift home but did not touch her and that he never met the other alleged victim.

The 25-year-old woman told police she got into a car after a man said he was an Uber driver at the end of his shift and offered her a free ride home in the early hours of 18 November 2022.

She said the driver attacked her before she fought him off, screamed for help and called 999.

Police spotted a car that matched a partial number plate given by the alleged victim and officers spoke to Mr Head in Brighton after two cars pulled him over.

He told officers he was driving back to Pevensey after listening to live music in Brighton, the jury heard.

Police said when the car was searched officers found latex gloves, Viagra, condoms and a balaclava.

Mr Head told police: "If I took her to the correct address, that's not kidnapping.

"I never said to her I was an Uber driver, I've never said that ever.

"I asked her if she wanted me to get her an Uber. She happily got in the car.

"I did not sexually assault that lady."

When asked by police why he had condoms and Viagra in his car, Mr Head told them he was a "normal red-blooded male", the court heard.

The trial continues.