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| Stuart Hall case: ex-husband tried to blackmail witness over rape claim | Stuart Hall case: ex-husband tried to blackmail witness over rape claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman who alleges the former broadcaster Stuart Hall raped her as a teenager has told a court that when she confided this to her ex-husband he threatened to reveal her "dirty little secret" to her family unless she gave him £1,000 in tax credits. | |
| The woman, now in her early fifties, told Preston crown court that she finally broke her silence about the years of sexual abuse in the summer of 2013, but that her husband's reaction led to their estrangement. | The woman, now in her early fifties, told Preston crown court that she finally broke her silence about the years of sexual abuse in the summer of 2013, but that her husband's reaction led to their estrangement. |
| The woman, who alleges that Hall raped her on multiple occasions in his BBC dressing room, told jurors that she decided to tell her children and father before sending her husband a text message saying: "Do your worst." | |
| "I just don't think he could comprehend it, I don't think he could come to terms with it," she told the court, explaining that her ex-husband of 27 years wanted £1,000 in family tax credits from her, and had backed her into a corner. She decided to tell her family after seeing the media coverage of sexual abuse allegations against Hall. "I thought, it's on the news, it's out there," she told the court. Prior to the coverage, she explained, she "just thought it had happened to me". | "I just don't think he could comprehend it, I don't think he could come to terms with it," she told the court, explaining that her ex-husband of 27 years wanted £1,000 in family tax credits from her, and had backed her into a corner. She decided to tell her family after seeing the media coverage of sexual abuse allegations against Hall. "I thought, it's on the news, it's out there," she told the court. Prior to the coverage, she explained, she "just thought it had happened to me". |
| Hall, the former presenter of It's a Knockout, denies 20 charges of rape and indecent assault. Earlier this week he admitted one count of indecent assault. | Hall, the former presenter of It's a Knockout, denies 20 charges of rape and indecent assault. Earlier this week he admitted one count of indecent assault. |
| Crispin Aylett QC, defending, asked the woman if she had used the word rape when telling her father about the alleged sexual abuse. She responded: "Have you any idea what that was like, trying to tell my father? It was bad enough telling my children." She denied that her motivation for coming to court was purely for compensation, saying she wanted to "see justice done". | Crispin Aylett QC, defending, asked the woman if she had used the word rape when telling her father about the alleged sexual abuse. She responded: "Have you any idea what that was like, trying to tell my father? It was bad enough telling my children." She denied that her motivation for coming to court was purely for compensation, saying she wanted to "see justice done". |
| Earlier, she told the court that between the ages of 14 and 15 she had been plied with drinks until she was "paralytic" by the former radio and TV presenter, before he partially undressed and raped her. | Earlier, she told the court that between the ages of 14 and 15 she had been plied with drinks until she was "paralytic" by the former radio and TV presenter, before he partially undressed and raped her. |
| She said the first incident took place at the BBC studios on Oxford Road, Manchester. | She said the first incident took place at the BBC studios on Oxford Road, Manchester. |
| "I wouldn't say I wanted to [have sex], but I didn't put up a fight," she told the court. She claimed the first time Hall raped her she was "legless" and "off her face" on alcohol. | "I wouldn't say I wanted to [have sex], but I didn't put up a fight," she told the court. She claimed the first time Hall raped her she was "legless" and "off her face" on alcohol. |
| The woman said she now believes her mother was aware of the sexual abuse.: "Deep down she knew," the witness told jurors. | |
| Asked by Peter Wright QC, defending, whether she felt she had a choice in going to the BBC studios, the woman said no. She said her mother told her that if she didn't go she would send her younger sister. "He had total control," she told Wright. | Asked by Peter Wright QC, defending, whether she felt she had a choice in going to the BBC studios, the woman said no. She said her mother told her that if she didn't go she would send her younger sister. "He had total control," she told Wright. |
| Hall was jailed last year for 15 months after admitting 14 offences of indecent assault against 13 young women. That sentence was later doubled by the court of appeal. The trial continues. |