Verdict in rapes trial due today

Judge Peter Fox told the nine women and three men jurors in the trial of Mark Cochrane that they would be expected to consider thoroughly the evidence relating to the "very serious charges" that were before them.

Mr Cochrane, of Balmer Hill, Gainford, near Darlington, denies two rapes, attempted rape, two indecent assaults and sex with a girl under the age of 16, between January 1999 and December last year.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, told the jury at Teesside Crown Court that Mr Cochrane had carried out the offences after picking up women in his car.

Miss Egerton described to the jury how he forced the 14-year-old, whom the defendant believed was a mature 15-year-old, to perform a sex act on him in his Ford Escort before raping her twice.

The jury was told that he admitted having sex with the teenager, but that she had consented.

The prosecution also told the court that another of his victims was the mother of a friend of Mr Cochrane, whom he picked up in Barnard Castle, County Durham, when he saw her waiting for a taxi.

Miss Egerton said that the woman, who was described to the court as old enough to be the defendant's mother, accepted a lift from Mr Cochrane, who then drove to a secluded spot and indecently assaulted her.

The other charges related to offences against another two teenage girls. Miss Egerton said that any inconsistencies in the evidence given by alleged victims was because the incidents took place more than three years ago.

She said: "The stark reality in this case is that the defendant has attacked all the girls in his car, and there is a wealth of evidence against Mr Cochrane."

Dan Cordey, defending, told the jury that Mr Cochrane had never been in trouble with the police and that the allegations against him were completely false, which was illustrated in some of the inconsistencies in their evidence.

The case continues