A Moroccan national named Abdelali Nachet, living in the UK, allegedly subjected a woman to a “degrading, humiliating and prolonged sex ordeal” after he offered his flat as a place to sleep for travellers on CouchSurfing.com.
The website allows somewhat adventurous travelers to find a free place to stay during a cheap road trip. Essentially a social network that connects members who have a couch (or floor space) with members looking for a place to sleep on a cheap road trip.
Prosecutor Simon Phillips said the 29-year-old victim was from Hong Kong and was travelling in Europe when she got in touch with Nachet, looking for a place to stay.
After an exchange of emails, the pair went back to his flat, where he allegedly made sexual advances after putting on music and asking her to dance.
She told Nachet, a Moroccan, she was not interested but he went on to rape her twice in an ordeal which lasted until the morning, Leeds Crown Court heard.
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It is claimed Nachet made the woman have a bath after the alleged rapes to get rid of incriminating forensic evidence. She got on a bus back to the West Midlands and alerted police after telling a male friend she had met on couchsurfing.com what had happened.
Nachet denies two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
The trial continues.
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