Bath girl accused 'with friends'

The six-year-old girl was found naked in a back alley

A man accused of taking a six-year-old girl from her bath and raping her has denied being anywhere near the abduction scene, a court has heard.

Peter Voisey, of Blyth, Northumberland, told police he was with two friends on the night of the crime.

The 35-year-old, also known as Smith, has denied abduction, rape and sexual assault at Newcastle Crown Court.

He told police he had "nipped out of the house to speak to a couple of friends" on 27 December.

While the girl was taken from her flat in Willington Quay, North Tyneside, he told police he was in Blyth with a man called Joe Rafferty and a friend called Andrew Stronach, nicknamed Sonic.

Mr Voisey, of Renwick Road, was driving a red Vauxhall Astra which he was borrowing from a friend, because his own car was off the road, the court heard.

Shoe print

The car was scrapped at a yard in Byker, Newcastle, following a minor accident, he said in a statement.

He is accused of attacking the girl and later dumping her in an alley.

Two weeks after the attack, detectives spoke to Mr Voisey at his sister Kerry's home where he had lived for three years.

Detectives asked to see his trainers to see if they matched a shoe print taken from the girl's bathroom.

They saw a similarity in the tread, and later seized the shoes.

Burned clothes

Earlier, the jury heard evidence from Clive Rudd, who had known the defendant for two years. Mr Rudd said the defendant's car made a distinctive sound.

He said: "The cam-shaft was knocking on the bottom of the engine."

The jury has already been told that the car in which the girl was taken made a screeching noise.

Mr Rudd also said Mr Voisey had told him he had burned some clothes in his back garden.

Maxine Fell, who had known the defendant for 20 years, said he grew up in North Tyneside and moved around the area.

The trial continues.