The youngest son of boxing legend Chris Eubank dragged a teenage girl over a pebble beach when she was too drunk to stand and raped her, a court heard today.
The girl, then 16, had no idea the man was Joseph Eubank when he aggressively grabbed her and forced her over the stones in Brighton, Lewes Crown Court was told.
Eubank, 27, admits having sex with the teenager but denies forcing her to do so. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of a woman over 16.
In a video recorded interview, the teenager told police she was too drunk to stand up when Eubank led over the stoney beach.
She told police Mr Eubank helped up when she fell at least two or three times before sitting down next to her.
Joseph Eubank arrives at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex this morning for his rape trial
Joseph Eubank arrives at Lewes Crown Court today to face charges of two counts of rape
Joseph Eubank at Lewes Crown Court today as his trial begins over rape allegations in Brighton
She said: ‘I was very drunk. I couldn’t see straight. I couldn’t stand up. I kept falling down on the stones, because I couldn’t stand up really. I hadn’t drunk like that, like ever.’
The young woman had been celebrating a birthday with friends on July 16, 2022 when she became separated from them.
The girl – who cannot be name for legal reasons – told police she was dragged over the stones near the Palace Pier after a brief conversation with Eubank.
She said: ‘The only thing he asked was how old I was. I told him I was 16. I asked him how old he was and he said 26 and that was the only thing he said to me.
‘I think maybe he might have said something else to me when we were at the top of the stairs. He said about going to look at the moon which was prominent. It was orange. Then he led me down the stairs.’
The charges relate to an alleged incident near Brighton Pier (file picture) on July 16, 2022
She told police he aggressively grabbed her by the wrist and led her across the pebble beach before forcing her to have oral sex.
He flipped her over and penetrated her vagina, a jury in Lewes heard. DNA tests confirmed the presence of his semen in her mouth.
She said: ‘I’m pretty sure he kissed me. I was very confused. I didn’t even realise I had been dragged down to the beach.’Â
Beverly Cripps, prosecuting, told the jury of ten women and two men that Eubank had said something about going to look at the moon when he met the girl.
She said: ‘There is no dispute that he intentionally penetrated her mouth or vagina. The sexual activity is admitted by Mr Eubank. The issue in the case that you are going to have to resolve is consent.
‘The Crown say she was vulnerable because of her age and drunken condition. She was heavily intoxicated but not so that she was unconscious but was drifting in and out and has a dim appreciation of what was happening to her.
‘Mr Eubank says she did consent and was able to do so. He took her down to the beach, towards the bottom of the groyne near to the sea.
A file photograph of Joseph Eubank (left) with father Chris Eubank Senior (centre) and brother Chris Eubank Junior (right)
Ms Cripps also said: ‘She said that he had initially been friendly but had become more aggressive as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her up, moving her quickly down the beach on each time she fell.’
The prosecutor added:Â ‘On the way she had stumbled more than once, but he pulled her up taking her further down the beach. When she fell for the final time, he sat beside her.
‘She has a recollection that he may have kissed her and then her next recollection is that he took out his penis and forced head down towards it and put his penis in her mouth. She said that that may have lasted minutes.
‘Again, she has no clear recollection of how this happened but he penetrated her vagina, she said that he must have flipped her over but she only really realised what had happened when he withdrew from her and walked up the beach.’
Eubank, who will turn 28 next month, was arrested soon after and charged with two counts of rape of a woman over the age of 16.
Eubank previously appeared at the court on February 8 when he pleaded not guilty to both charges – and continued to be granted bail with conditions.
The defendant is the youngest son of former superstar boxer Chris Eubank Senior, 58, and the brother of professional boxer Chris Eubank Junior, 35.
The trial continues.
