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Eddy Shah rape trial: Accused admits using prostitute | |
(1 day later) | |
Former newspaper boss Eddy Shah, standing trial for the rape of a schoolgirl, has told the Old Bailey that he used a prostitute. | Former newspaper boss Eddy Shah, standing trial for the rape of a schoolgirl, has told the Old Bailey that he used a prostitute. |
Mr Shah, 69, who founded the Today newspaper, denies six counts of raping a girl under 16 in the 1990s. | Mr Shah, 69, who founded the Today newspaper, denies six counts of raping a girl under 16 in the 1990s. |
On Tuesday, Mr Shah, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, said he paid co-defendant Susan Davies, 53, for sex in the 1980s. | On Tuesday, Mr Shah, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, said he paid co-defendant Susan Davies, 53, for sex in the 1980s. |
The businessman is alleged to have taken part in threesomes with Ms Davies and the schoolgirl in the early 1990s. | The businessman is alleged to have taken part in threesomes with Ms Davies and the schoolgirl in the early 1990s. |
Mr Shah, who is still married to the actress wife he had at the time, said he met Susan Davies while he was setting up the now-defunct newspaper. | Mr Shah, who is still married to the actress wife he had at the time, said he met Susan Davies while he was setting up the now-defunct newspaper. |
"I just wanted some company so I rang an escort agency and Susan Davies was the girl who turned up," he said. "I just wanted somebody to relax with, to talk to, and that was it." | "I just wanted some company so I rang an escort agency and Susan Davies was the girl who turned up," he said. "I just wanted somebody to relax with, to talk to, and that was it." |
Mr Shah said there had been a sexual encounter "probably every time I met her", paying her between £100 and £200 for each meeting. | Mr Shah said there had been a sexual encounter "probably every time I met her", paying her between £100 and £200 for each meeting. |
The offences are alleged to have happened when the schoolgirl was between the ages of 12 and 15. | The offences are alleged to have happened when the schoolgirl was between the ages of 12 and 15. |
Affair claim | Affair claim |
Mr Shah denied having sex with the girl on the second occasion he is alleged to have met her. | Mr Shah denied having sex with the girl on the second occasion he is alleged to have met her. |
He said the girl arrived with Ms Davies when she visited him at another hotel and the three of them went up to his room and ordered room service. | He said the girl arrived with Ms Davies when she visited him at another hotel and the three of them went up to his room and ordered room service. |
Asked by Mr Barnard why they did not eat in the hotel's restaurant, Shah said: "I didn't want to be seen with the two women. | Asked by Mr Barnard why they did not eat in the hotel's restaurant, Shah said: "I didn't want to be seen with the two women. |
"It just seemed wrong because I could have been seen with another woman and people would start talking and think we were having an affair." | "It just seemed wrong because I could have been seen with another woman and people would start talking and think we were having an affair." |
He claimed he and Ms Davies had sex in the bedroom of the suite while the girl waited in another room. | He claimed he and Ms Davies had sex in the bedroom of the suite while the girl waited in another room. |
"I don't find young girls attractive," he said. | "I don't find young girls attractive," he said. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |