Woman 'wanted cuddle' with Sunderland's Jack Diamond, trial hears

Jack Diamond denies rape and sexual assault

A woman who alleges a footballer raped her said she went to his home for "cuddles and company".

Sunderland winger Jack Diamond, 23, denies raping and sexually assaulting the woman at his home in Fatfield, Washington, on 7 May 2022.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair agreed to be "friends with benefits" after matching on a dating app in 2019.

The woman, who said their friendship was "95% sex", said she went to his home for a "cuddle and company".

Under cross-examination by Mr Diamond's advocate Eleanor Laws KC, the woman, who cannot be identified, said neither of them wanted to be in a proper relationship.

She said they had an "agreement" to meet for sex which they were both happy with, and they would get together in his car before he moved into a new home on Falstone in Fatfield.

'On medication'

The court heard in the woman's call to police that their relationship was "95% sex", which the woman confirmed was true to jurors.

The woman said on the night of 7 May, Mr Diamond rang her and invited her to his home.

She said they agreed on the phone there would not be any sexual activity, just a "cuddle and company".

The woman said she was not using contraception and was on a medication at the time that could pose a risk to a baby if she fell pregnant.

Ms Laws suggested the couple had had "full sexual intercourse" on several occasions after she started that medication, but the woman denied that.

'Love hearts'

The woman agreed there was consensual activity such as "kissing and touching" on 7 May, but said she did not consent to full sex.

Ms Laws asked if the the woman was "upset" because afterwards Mr Diamond appeared "disinterested" in her, which the woman denied.

The court heard the woman messaged a friend to come and pick her up as she had no fuel.

She told the friend she had been attacked and they urged her to tell her father, who then called the police.

"You didn't want him to call the police, did you?" Ms Laws asked.

"No," the woman replied.

The woman also denied she "liked" Mr Diamond or wanted a proper relationship with him.

Ms Laws said in April 2022 the woman added love heart emojis to a picture of Mr Diamond.

The woman said she often used love hearts with her friends.

The trial continues.