Man in Zorro outfit 'raped woman'

Mario Duggan denies a rape charge at Swansea Crown Court

A man dressed as Zorro lured a drunken teenager into a dark alley and raped her, a jury has been told

Mario Duggan, 55, of no fixed address, forced the 18-year-old to the floor and ripped her clothes, the court heard.

He denies the alleged attack in the centre of Carmarthen in July and his barrister will tell Swansea Crown Court she consented to sex.

He was known for dressing up as the mythical Mexican bandit in a black cape, mask and fedora, the court heard.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the woman walking to the town's Metro nightclub on 5 July and talking to friends in the queue outside.

Kevin Riordan, prosecuting, highlighted the presence of Mr Duggan dressed as Zorro standing alone opposite the club.

He alleged that Mr Duggan identified her as drunk and vulnerable at that point and waited for her to come out.

Within 20 minutes she was seen exiting the club alone at which point he approached her and they left the area together.

He said at the time that he wanted baby Zorros.... she said no and tried to push him away Kevin Riordan, prosecuting

Through the town's CCTV system their movements were tracked until they disappeared together into a dark alley off Jackson Lane, which was not covered by camera.

Around 40 minutes later the teenager was recorded again, this time seen bare-footed and minus her white jeans and knickers walking out dishevelled into the town centre.

People quickly surrounded her and she immediately claimed she had been raped, said Mr Riordan.

CCTV footage taken around the same time showed Duggan, his cape blowing behind him, walking out of the alley in the direction he had entered it.

He was quickly located by the police and immediately claimed sex between them was consensual.

Mr Riordan said when he was searched police found he was carrying the teenager's pink Samsung mobile phone and a pair of black knickers, which he claimed belonged to an ex-girlfriend.

The barrister said under questioning, Mr Duggan later conceded the underwear belonged to the teenager and that she had been drunk and he had taken advantage of her "to a certain extent".

Mr Riordan said Mr Duggan's defence was that the teenager was a willing party.

But he said that "she maintains that she was pushed to the floor by the defendant".

He told the court: "He said at the time that he wanted baby Zorros. She said no and tried to push him away."

The trial continues.