RAF corporal ‘raped junior colleague whereas they have been in his room watching the Barbie film – then stated she bruised him whereas making an attempt to push him away’
Liam Avenell, 37, invited the younger woman to watch the 2023 hit movie in his room before he ‘held her face down’ and ‘forcibly’ kissed her, a court martial heard
An RAF corporal ‘raped’ a junior colleague while watching the Barbie movie in his room and claimed she bruised him when she pushed him away.
Liam Avenell, 37, invited the younger woman to watch the 2023 hit movie in his room before he ‘held her face down’ and ‘forcibly’ kissed her, a court martial heard.
The alleged attack, which took place at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, left the junior servicewoman ‘traumatised’, ‘hating herself’ and feeling ‘weak and in shock’.
They were ‘no more than colleagues’ and met for the first time for a walk before he invited her to his room to watch the movie, Bulford Military Court heard.
The servicewoman thought they were ‘just two friends’ watching a movie together.
After allegedly climbing on top and forcing himself on her, Cpl Avenell told her to spend the night with him because ‘he needed a sleepover.’
In a state of shock she did.
‘After raping me I felt confused and weak,’ she said.
Two days later he sent her photos of the bruises she had given him when she tried to push him away.
She said: ‘It all happened so quickly. When I tried to push him off me it needed force I couldn’t possibly give. I felt so weak. I felt like I had no strength left.’
The prosecutor said: ‘At the start they sat on a sofa in the room but then moved onto the bed.
‘Then he forcefully kissed her. She told him no multiple times. He proceeded to remove her clothes and raped her.
‘She tried to push him off. Afterwards he told her to get her toothbrush and stay with him and she did in a state of shock.
‘After that he sent her photos of small bruises on his chest which she believes she caused when she tried to push him off.’
The corporal has been charged with rape and is standing trial at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire. He denies the charge
She did not immediately report the attack because she was ‘scared how he would react’.
However she did tell her parents and an officer not based at RAF Brize Norton.
The servicewoman said she ‘couldn’t carry on feeling that way’ and later told the police.
‘I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else,’ she said.
Cpl Avenell has been charged with rape and is standing trial at Bulford Military Court. He denies the charges.
The trial continues.
