Hi °C | Lo °C
A footballer has told a court that he had exposed himself in front of a sleeping teenager so his teammates could take a photograph.
George Barker (21) said he and five other footballers were "laughing and joking" in the Brighton hotel room where the 19-year-old had joined them.
Mr Barker told the Old Bailey in London that his pal – former Irish junior international Anton Rodgers (20), son of the Liverpool manager Brendan – was the first to pull his boxer shorts down and pose for a picture.
Brighton and Hove Albion players Barker, Rodgers, Leon Dunk (21) and former team-mate Steve Cook (21), who now plays for Bournemouth, deny sexual assault and voyeurism.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in July 2011.
Mr Barker, the first of the players to give evidence, said he and Mr Rodgers returned to their hotel room and went to bed. He was woken by voices and saw the teenager sitting on their double bed.
He said:"She got into the bed and got in between us under the duvet. We carried on laughing and joking for about 15 minutes. Then she started kissing Anton, kissing his lips, snogging. She then rolled over and started kissing me on the lips.
"It was a bit of a shock to start with. She rolled back to Anton and started kissing him again, then she rolled back again and then started kissing me again. Then she fell asleep."
He said fellow players Ben Sampayo and Leon Redwood were also in the room.
Mr Barker said: "I remember there was talking, suggesting photographs would be taken." He said Mr Rodgers posed for a photograph standing on the bed next to the woman, now 21, with his penis exposed. "I was laughing at him."
He said he pulled his boxer shorts down and posed but, like Rodgers, didn't touch her.
Mr Barker said he left the room and when he returned, someone had written his initials in foam on her thigh, and he posed with his thumbs up next to her. He saw four pictures taken and the only time he saw any of them was some days later when Mr Rodgers allegedly sent him the 'GB' picture.
The court was told it was the only picture found by police on any of the players' phones.
The trial continues today.
Irish Independent
