This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/26/anonymous-uk-founder-accused-rape

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Anonymous UK founder accused of rape at Occupy London camp Anonymous UK founder accused of rape at Occupy London camp
(about 1 hour later)
The self-styled founder of the hacking activist group Anonymous UK kept a tally of sexual partners on his tent at the Occupy London protest camp in central London, a court has heard. The self-styled founder of the hacking activist group Anonymous UK kept a tally of sexual partners on his tent at the Occupy London protest camp at St Paul's cathedral, a court has heard.
Malcolm Blackman, who is accused of raping a woman with whom he had a brief relationship at the camp, started the list of names on the outside of the tent, to which a fellow protester mischievously added other names, the Old Bailey was told.Malcolm Blackman, who is accused of raping a woman with whom he had a brief relationship at the camp, started the list of names on the outside of the tent, to which a fellow protester mischievously added other names, the Old Bailey was told.
The details emerged from a summary of a post-arrest interview with Blackman, 45, in June, which was read to the court. The details emerged from a summary of a post-arrest interview with Blackman, 46, in June, which was read to the court.
The list was begun by Blackman "as a joke with other men" at the camp, the summary said. At this point, Blackman had slept with three women at the camp. The list was begun by Blackman "as a joke with other men" at the camp, the summary said. At this point, Blackman had slept with three women at the camp. "Another man added more tallies and names," said David Povall, prosecuting, who was reading the summary. "Three of the names were correct and the rest speculative, which caused a lot of trouble with women in the camp."
"Another man added more tallies and names," said David Povall, prosecuting, who was reading the summary. "Three of the names were correct and the rest speculative, which caused a lot of trouble with women in the camp."
Blackman, the court was told, subsequently "wished he had not done it".Blackman, the court was told, subsequently "wished he had not done it".
The court heard that Blackman moved to the camp when it began, in mid-October 2011, staying in other people's tents as he did not have one of his own. He moved into the tent of his alleged victim, who stayed at the camp only at weekends, and began a brief relationship with her in December. The court heard Blackman moved to the camp when it began, in mid-October 2011, initially staying in other people's tents as he did not have one of his own. He moved into the tent of his alleged victim, another member of Anonymous UK, who stayed at the camp only at weekends, and began a brief relationship with her in December.
According to the interview summary, soon after the relationship began the pair went for a drink at a bar in Waterloo, south London, at which Blackman told the woman their connection should be "casual, with no exclusivity or strings". At one point she tried to hold hands with him, and "he did not want this", the statement added. Soon after the relationship began the pair went for a drink at a bar at which Blackman told the woman their connection should be "casual, with no exclusivity or strings". At one point she tried to hold hands with him, and "he did not want this", the statement added.
Blackman, from Weston-super-Mare in north Somerset, denies two counts of rape in January last year. Blackman, from Weston-super-Mare in north Somerset, denies two counts of rape in January 2012.
The court also heard from a former colleague of the alleged victim, who recounted going into the office one day in February last year to find her workmate tearful and upset. During a subsequent drink after work the alleged victim told her colleague that she had been attacked by Blackman.The court also heard from a former colleague of the alleged victim, who recounted going into the office one day in February last year to find her workmate tearful and upset. During a subsequent drink after work the alleged victim told her colleague that she had been attacked by Blackman.
The colleague, giving evidence from behind a green curtain, recounted what she had been told: "She said she had gone to the St Paul's camp and there was a party or a gathering, and she had had a few drinks, and had fallen asleep in the tent. The colleague, giving evidence from behind a green curtain, said the alleged victim had recounted going to sleep in her tent at the camp after some drinks. She continued: "She said she had woken up and there was a belt around her throat and neck, being held by Malcolm. She somehow managed to throw him off. She lay there and he said something on the lines of 'You're a touchy one.'"
"She said she had woken up and there was a belt around her throat and neck, being held by Malcolm. She somehow managed to throw him off. She lay there and he said something on the lines of 'You're a touchy one.'" Giving evidence, Blackman insisted he never raped the woman, and that she never asked him to stop any sexual activity. Blackman described tensions between the pair, saying she wanted a relationship while he was devoted to his role in the protest, describing this as "winning hearts and minds" by talking to visitors.
The alleged victim, whom the female witness described as kind and strong-minded, was in tears as she described what happened, she said. Blackman said he told the woman their relationship was "moving far too fast and was far too intense", adding: "It was diverting my attention away from what I was there for, which was to spread the word to the public."
The officer who led the investigation, DS Marcos Gilsom, from City police, said Blackman had declined legal advice at his initial interview, saying he thought the matter could be cleared up easily. Describing a night of drinking to celebrate his birthday in February last year, Blackman said he had to call for help from other protesters after the woman stopped him leaving their tent after he refused to discuss their relationship. On another evening the alleged victim punched Blackman and another female protester, with whom he was now having sex, and had to be "dragged away, screaming", he said.
According to the summary of Blackman's interview, he described the accusations as complete fabrication. He told police the alleged victim was "nasty and violent" when she had been drinking and once tried to forcibly stop him leaving their tent, prompting him to move his possessions out. On another occasion, when their brief relationship ended she punched him and his new sexual partner in a communal tent at the camp, Blackman added. Asked by Gordon Ross, defending, about the tally of sexual partners on his tent, Blackman said it was a joke which he regretted. Questioned about when he first knew the alleged victim had learned of the list, he replied: "When she punched me."
Earlier, the court heard from another witness, a friend of the alleged victim, who said she had called her to warn about Blackman's sexual activities.
Gordon Ross, defending, said: "You telephoned her and did you tell her that you had been shown a tally on Malcolm Blackman's tent, which you understood to be effectively a list of his conquests?" She agreed.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8amguardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am