The jury of six men and five women were told that Anthony John Quant (51) has convictions for rape dating back several decades.
He is now standing trial on one count of rape and one of indecent assault against a teenage girl at the heritage site decades ago.
His co-defendant, Ian Lee Pryor (51), is accused of two counts of rape on the same occasion against the same, now adult, woman. They both deny the charges.
Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Pryor’s ex-wife, Kathryn Lang, described him as a ‘good’ father and husband as well as a ‘laid-back, sociable, good fun, very kind and generally a very nice and genuine guy’.
The witness, who now lives in the UK, told the jury following questions from Mr Pryor’s Advocate, Luke Sette, that their separation was amicable and they were still friends.
Under cross-examination, Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, put it to Ms Lang that the jury should not take her evidence as an independent observer but as Mr Pryor’s ex-wife.
‘Yes, I am here and I am his ex-wife,’ she replied.
Advocate Adam Harrison, defending Mr Quant, did not call any witnesses. Neither defendant chose to take the stand, which is their legal right.
It is agreed between both defence and prosecution counsels that the complainant first made an allegation to the States police in 2002, over a decade after the alleged crimes, but no further action was taken and neither defendants were interviewed.
Then, in 2008, it was heard that the complainant emailed the States police’s Historical Abuse Team, but when detectives responded the woman did not reply.
Several years later the complainant emailed community police officer PC Jo Carter, the court heard. The case was then officially reopened in 2015 and both defendants were called in for several interviews.
Advocate Hollywood, and Detective Sergeant Rob Manners – the officer in charge of the case – read out a transcript of two interviews with Mr Pryor in 2016.
The jury heard the defendant repeatedly denying raping or having sex with the complainant, who
he described as a ‘vindictive woman’.
During an interview with two detectives, Mr Pryor said: ‘I did not do it. I am not a f****** rapist or a sex case. My whole life is going to be f****** ruined. She is an evil cow, man, an evil f****** cow.’
Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith is presiding. The trial, which is scheduled to last a maximum of five days, continues.
