Sunderland footballer Jack Diamond 'raped woman in his home'

The 23-year-old has denied rape and sexual assault

A Sunderland footballer raped and sexually assaulted a woman he met on a dating app, a jury has heard.

Prosecutors said Jack Diamond assaulted the woman at his home in Fatfield, Washington on 7 May 2022.

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the 23-year-old denied rape and sexual assault.

The woman told police she agreed to a "cuddle" but wanted to "physically throw up" after being attacked, the court heard.

'Caressing'

Opening the prosecution case, David Povall said Mr Diamond and the woman had initially met on the dating app Tinder and he then contacted her and asked her to come to his house.

She'd agreed to go there for a "cuddle" but the jury heard at the time she was on a course of medication which meant she had to avoid sex.

In a recorded police interview played to the jury, the woman said the assault "felt like it lasted forever".

Sunderland suspended Mr Diamond in March last year when he was charged.

He was on loan at Lincoln City at the time but the club terminated his stay.

The court heard that when the pair got into bed, "although it started with cuddling, it became clear that Jack Diamond wanted more".

Mr Povall said the woman "eventually" consented to some sexual activity, and woke up some time later to Diamond "caressing her".

'Distressed state'

The prosecutor said: "She asked him to stop and told him she wasn't in the mood, but he persisted.

"It was only after repeated protests and pleas for him to stop that he desisted."

Mr Povall said the woman saw Diamond sending messages on his phone and "feared" he was communicating with his housemate Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who had "previously raised the possibility of a threesome".

"She didn't want to get into that situation," Mr Povall said, adding: "Fearful of what might happen, she messaged a friend, asking for help."

Mr Diamond asked her to leave and her friend arrived to meet her, finding the woman in a "very emotional and distressed state", Mr Povall said.

In an interview with police officers played in court, the woman told police she "turned over and cried" after the first sexual assault.

Newcastle fan jurors discharged

She said Mr Diamond "grabbed her wrists" and was "quite aggressive" during the alleged rape, telling officers: "It was like a switch had gone off."

Mr Diamond told police there had been consensual sexual activity but no intercourse, and that the woman was "jealous and possessive".

Two potential jurors for the trial were excluded "out of an abundance of caution" after declaring that they were Newcastle United season ticket holders.

The 15 potential panellists were asked to indicate whether they were season ticket holders for either Newcastle United or Sunderland, and whether they were planning to attend the FA Cup clash between the two sides on Saturday.

Judge Edward Bindloss told potential jurors: "We want a jury who are able to put aside all issues of support and affiliation and come to a fair and objective view."

Excluding two of the potential panel, the judge said: "This is not meant in any way as a criticism of them but Mr Diamond is an employee of Sunderland football club. Mr Patterson may or may not be called for the defence.

"The test of bias is not just actual bias but the perception of bias."

The trial continues.