Investment banker accused of raping Bumble date in £1m flat told her 'I do ... trends now
An investment banker accused of raping a woman at his £1million flat after meeting her on Bumble admitted he does ‘push boundaries’, a court heard.
Varun Venaik, 31, kissed and touched the woman intimately with her consent before forcing himself on her, it is claimed.
She later messaged him saying: ‘I tried to make it clear that no meant no,’ and ‘In future please respect when someone says no.’
Australian Venaik denies raping the woman at his basement apartment in Marylebone, central London and insisted her messages did not raise 'alarm bells'.
Venaik told Southwark Crown Court he had an ‘amazing’ time with his alleged victim and when she messaged him saying she had not wanted to have sex, he did not think she was accusing him of rape, but later replied: 'I do push boundaries.'
Varun Venaik, 31, kissed and touched the woman intimately with her consent before forcing himself on her in his £1million apartment, it is alleged
Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court today, the alleged victim told how she had tried to push Venaik (pictured) away during his 'forceful' attack
Cross-examining Venaik, prosecutor James Dick said he had claimed the woman had performed a sex act on the accused before he penetrated her.
‘Those two important things are omitted from your statement,’ said Mr Dick.
‘I was shocked after having been arrested and essentially spent the night in a cold cell,’ Venaik explained.
'I was still coming to grips with what had happened. Having not slept well at all, I had two cups of coffee.
