Bartolomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 21, pictured arrive at Bradford Crown Court today, is charged with raping the student when she was 19
A student who appeared on University Challenge told a teenage girl he wanted to help her ‘get over her ex-boyfriend’ – as he held her down and allegedly raped her, a court heard today.
York University student Bartolomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 21, told the complainant – who was 19 at the time – that he had ‘fantasised’ about having sex with her after a drunken night out together in June 2014.
The court also heard that Joly de Lotbiniere told the alleged victim, 22, that she needed to teach him how to have sex while he was assaulting her.
She alleges that he followed her to the bathroom opposite her bedroom at her halls of residence before trying to kiss her and telling her he wanted to have sex with her.
He then carried her back to her room, stripping off her clothes and ‘forced’ himself on her, the court heard.
The alleged victim claims he told her he was ‘helping her get over her ex-boyfriend’ while he sexually assaulted her, it was said.
The alleged victim was encouraged to tell police that she was raped by Joly de Lotbiniere when he became a social media sensation after appearing on TV quiz show University Challenge, a jury heard.
The 21-year-old history student appeared on the programme as part of the York University team in 2015 – more than a year after the alleged incident which happened in June 2014.
Prosecutor Gerald Hendron QC, said the complainant ‘froze’ when Joly de Loteiniere took off her clothes and carried her to the bed.
The victim, speaking in a pre-recorded police interview, said that Joly de Loteiniere kept telling her that she needed to teach him how to have sex while he was assaulting her.
And when he left the room afterwards it is alleged the History student told his victim: ‘Pretend this never happened – tell no one about this.’
A series of texts between Joly de Loteiniere and the alleged victim revealed she was ‘not overly comfortable’ afterwards and he replied saying ‘I was a disgrace’, it was heard.
Texts sent between the alleged victim and Joly de Loteiniere revealed the victim was upset by what happened, it was heard. Joly de Loteiniere is pictured arriving at court with a family member today
But Joly de Loteiniere claimed in police interview he was embarrassed because he ‘was not good at [sex]’, was ‘not fully erect’ and she had ‘to help him out’, it was said.
Opening the case todeay at Bradford Crown Court, Mr Hendron QC said: ‘He [Joly de Loteiniere] said he was helping her get over her ex-boyfriend.
‘He said he had fantasised about her and then digitally penetrated her.
‘He then put a condom on and did a thrusting motion. This went on for a while.
‘This was going on for quite a while – and [the alleged victim] later said when the defendant stopped he was acting really drunk and she was sore down below.
‘Upon leaving the room the defendant told [the alleged victim] ‘pretend this never happened – tell no one about this’.’
When he left the room afterwards it is alleged the History student told his victim: ‘Pretend this never happened – tell no one about this’
The incident occurred at the alleged victim’s home in York in June 2014.
Texts sent between the alleged victim and Joly de Loteiniere revealed the victim was upset by what happened, it was heard.
The alleged victim text Joly de Loteiniere: ‘I thought I’d let you know I wasn’t overly comfortable with what happened on Thursday night.’
Joly de Loteiniere replied: ‘Neither did I. I was a disgrace, and did a very stupid thing and I am very sorry for what I did. I just hope you can forgive me at some point and I’ll try my best not to act like a bloody 14 year old again and start acting my age, sorry.’
The court heard that the alleged victim thought that she could put the experience behind her, but changed her mind when she next saw him at a house party in October 2014.
After she left the party, Joly de Loteiniere text his victim saying sorry, it was said.
Joly de Loteiniere text the victim: ‘I wanted to apologise to you in person tonight. I want you to know I am very sorry for what I did and that there is no enmity between us and we can move on as mutual friends.’
She did not report the incident to the police until September 25, 2015, and the police seized Joly de Loteiniere’s phone.
During a police interview the alleged victim said she wanted to do something about the incident a year later following the defendant’s rise in notoriety on the BBC2 quiz programme.
The complainant said a tweet posted by Pointless TV presenter Richard Osmond had brought attention to Joly de Lotbiniere – granting him immediate social media fame.
In the recorded police interview she said she ‘wanted to do something’ about the alleged rape at the hands of the defendant after seeing his ‘quite different’ name on Twitter – which is when she knew ‘something was up’.
Speaking in the pre-recorded police interview at Bradford Crown Court today, the complainant said: ‘He was all over social media and even though it was a year on I thought I should do something about it.
‘First he was on the TV and then I saw a tweet about it and I got really angry and upset.
‘It definitely got to me.’
Mr Henderon said it was the prosecution’s case that the texts Joly sent to the alleged victim revealed the defendant was admitting his part in the incident.
Mr Henderon added: ‘It is the prosecution’s case he raped her and put it down to his immaturity.’
Both, Joly de Lotbiniere and the alleged victim have admitted having ‘brief sex’ together – but the victim says it was not consensual.
Joly de Loteiniere formerly of York, now of Bolton Gardens, North London, denies two sex offences, including sexual assault by digital penetration and rape.
A jury of five men and seven women will try Joly de Loteiniere during a trail set to last at least five days.
The trial continues.
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