'You've got nothing on me', says gang-rape defendant (From Haringey Independent)

'You've got nothing on me', says gang-rape defendant

3:00pm Monday 17th November 2008 in

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A man on trial for rape and GBH denied he intimidated witnesses into saying he was not involved.

Bradley Daley-Smith, who calls himself 'a well-known womaniser', is accused of participating in an alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl who was then covered in caustic soda to destroy DNA evidence, the prosecution have alleged.

The 21-year-old of Sheldon Road, Edmonton, appears alongside Miguel Almeida, 22, also of Edmonton, Opeyemi Ismeil, 20, of no fixed address, Hector Muaimba, 20, from Walthamstow, Jason Brew, 18, Bruno Abrantes, 24, and Rogel McMorris, also 18, all from Tottenham deny rape charges.

McMorris, Daley-Smith, Abrantes, Brew and Muaimba, additionally deny grievous bodily harm.

Throughout the course of the trial jurors have heard that several witnesses who claimed to have seen or heard that Daley-Smith was at the scene said that they must have made a mistake while under oath.

When questioned by prosecutor Rosina Cottage, Daley-Smith said: "What do you think I am — some kind of a mob boss? What can I do? I’m only one person. Half of those boys in the docks don’t even like me and they have all said I wasn’t there.

"You keep on asking me the same question and I keep on telling you I wasn’t there. Where’s your evidence? I’ve got my evidence. If I was there — prove it. Why didn’t anyone ask [the victim] if I was there? You haven’t got nothing on me. You’re just chatting breeze."

Daley-Smith claims he was visiting his girlfriend at her hostel at the time the alleged attack took place. He told the court he had been signed in the guest book under the name 'Stephen' — although he normally uses the alias 'Roy'.

At Wood Green Crown Court, in Lordship Lane, the jury heard Mr Daley-Smith visited the hostel to check the guest book and CCTV footage before going to the police station to assist with enquiries.

"What is the harm in that?" Daley-Smith said. He added he only wanted to take the guest book with him to prove to police he had visited the property.

The father-of-two admitted to having consensual sex with the schoolgirl victim two days before the alleged rape on January 9 in Anthill Road, Tottenham.

He apologised for telling her friend she was a "dirty ho who deserved it" when confronted.

He said: "I did say that and I have apologised. But it only took me twenty minutes from meeting her to get her into bed. That’s the shortest time for me. I do think that is a bit loose.

"I did my thing with her and that was it for me. I’m a well-known womaniser, people know me for that. Having sex with someone is not a big deal to me."

The defendant also told the court he had promised the victim’s brother he would help find those who were responsible.

A verdict is expected by the end of next week.