Poole speedway's Darcy Ward 'filmed sexually assaulting girl'

Darcy Ward denies assaulting the girl at a Poole hotel in August

A champion speedway rider was filmed by his friend sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in a Dorset hotel room, a court has heard.

Poole Pirates' Darcy Ward, 20, from Sturminster Marshall, denies assaulting the girl at a Poole hotel in August.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies rape and three counts of assault.

The jury at Bournemouth Crown Court was shown footage taken from the 17-year-old defendant's iPhone.

The prosecution claimed it showed Australian Mr Ward and his friend sexually assaulting the girl together on 17 August.

Left hotel 'swiftly'

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, explained the girls, who were visiting Poole especially for the speedway, had been drinking since checking into the Premier Inn earlier in the afternoon.

She told the hearing that the victim and a 24-year-old man known to her had met Mr Ward and the 17-year-old in the bar after the race meeting.

After leaving Poole Stadium in Wimborne Road, the two girls and the three men agreed to return to the hotel.

There the girl and the 24-year-old man had consensual sex, Ms Maylin said.

While in the room with them, the 17-year-old then raped and assaulted the girl on his own and later together with Mr Ward, the court heard.

Ms Maylin added that after the incident had taken place, the three men were seen by hotel staff and the victim's friend leaving the hotel "swiftly".

Mr Ward was arrested at his home in Poole Road the following morning, while the 17-year-old was arrested later that day.

The case continues.