Rape claims are total lies, submariner tells court martial

A Royal Navy submariner has told a court martial that claims he violently raped a woman in her bedroom were "total lies".

Petty Officer Stuart Glassford, currently posted to the nuclear submarine HMS Victorious, denies raping the woman in October on his second night ashore after three months onboard a sub.

The 34-year-old told the trial at Portsmouth Naval Base that he had not been drinking that night and had not been "steaming drunk" as the complainant alleged.

He said he would not drive while drunk because it could lead to him losing his driving licence which he needed to get to Faslane naval base from his home in Dumbarton.

Asked if he had grabbed her by the throat and raped her, Glassford said: "It's just ridiculous, it's not true. I am not the type of person to take violence or anger out on anyone, let alone a woman."

Glassford, originally from Glasgow, added that he was known for his "boring sex life" and had the nickname "Missionary Killick" with killick referring to Navy slang for a junior sailor.

He said the complainant had invited him to her place and he added: "There were no fights or arguments, there was no bust-up."

He added: "We were having consensual sex, she said she wanted to stop. I stopped. I laid down beside her and I asked her what was going on and she said, 'Nothing, I just don't want to do it'."

He said that hearing the complainant's evidence had made him "feel sick" and added: "It's total lies, it's not true."

Glassford said the complainant visited his home the following day and they had consensual sex that night.

Describing the impact of the allegations, Glassford said: "This is really serious to me, it's life-threatening to me, it's led me to be on medication and to overeat, I have taken to comfort eating and put on two stone."

The trial continues.