A former pub landlord accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl has had his trial postponed two days after it began.
Peter Richardson, who goes by Marc, appeared at Swindon Crown Court for the first day of his trial on Wednesday, February 19, accused of sexually assaulting a teenager between September and October 2022.
Richardson, who is in his 60s, was the owner of the Rap Trap pub on Highworth Road at the time of the alleged offence.
After the trial was listed to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, it was adjourned before a verdict could be reached by the jury, due to a member of Richardson’s defence team falling unwell.
On Wednesday, the court heard that the victim had claimed Richardson made derogatory remarks to the teenager, including grunting at her when she was facing away from him and telling her he “liked the view”, as well as saying he liked looking at her breasts and making jokes about having sex with her and asking if she had done it before.
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On one occasion, it is alleged that Richardson put his hands on her hips and thrust into her.
The victim told police that Richardson went to take McDonald’s rubbish out of his van, walked up to her and put the rubbish inside her top, before letting go of the rubbish, putting his hand under her shirt and holding her breast.
She said he only stopped when he was “verbally challenged” by her and walked into the pub laughing, leaving her feeling “embarrassed and uncomfortable”.
The prosecution added that in June 2023, Richardson was interviewed by police and said he did not recall the victim and had never behaved in an inappropriate manner.
There is currently no new date set for the trial.
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