Blackpool man accused of Preston rapes and sex attacks is on trial at Lancashire's new Nightingale Court in Ashton Hall

Matthew Terry, 24, of Taylor Terrace, Blackpool, is accused of committing attacks in Preston and Manchester in 2018.

The women cannot be identified for legal reasons.

During the proceedings at Lancashire's Nightingale court in Lancaster, prosecutor David Pojur said: "He is a man who takes sexual gratification from women when he wants it and when he does so he is often in drink

"He prioritises his lust for sexual adventure over those womens' rights to refuse his advances.

"The prosecution when he was in drink he failed to exercise self control."

Referring to the rape allegations he added: " "The issue for you to consider is consent. The prosecution says he cannot have reasonably believed she was consenting."

It is alleged Terry raped the first woman at an address in the Ashton area of Preston, and a second time at a house party in August 2018, in which he allegedly locked her in a bedroom.

The court heard the other allegations came to light after she disclosed what had happened.

It is alleged he sexually assaulted a second woman who was invited to his home in Preston in March 2018 in which he jumped onto her, tried to kiss her and groped her.

The woman managed to text her ex partner to come and help her.

The third woman alleged she and her boyfriend went back to Terry's home after a night out in the Switch nightclub, and that she was so tired she lay down on a bed in his bedroom.

Mr Pojur said: " She found a place to put her head down in his bedroom, fully clothed. After being asleep for around half an hour she was woken by the presence of him in bed next to her.

"He was under the covers and what awoke her was him kissing her on the cheek and neck."

The court was told he continued to grope her before sexually assaulting her and that she was "crying hysterically."

Eventually her boyfriend came into the bedroom and had an altercation with Terry.

(proceeding)

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