Former Arsenal footballer, 30, 'raped a 17-year-old girl in a rented flat before his friend also had sex with her’

  • Kerrea Gilbert, 30, allegedly attacked the teenager after a night out in Bristol
  • His friend is then accused of having sex with her too, Bristol Crown Court heard
  • Defendants, who deny rape, had invited victim and her friend to a rented flat

By Thomas Burrows for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A former Premier League footballer is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in a rented apartment.

Former Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert, 30, allegedly attacked the teenager after a night out in Bristol celebrating a friend's birthday.

Gilbert's friend Nathan Roach-Doctrove, 28, is also accused of raping the girl on a settee in the flat after the footballer had allegedly sexually assaulted her, the jury was told.

The defendants, who both deny a charge of rape, had invited the victim and her friend to a flat in Easton.

Former Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert (pictured right), celebrating a goal with Thierry Henry (who is entirely unconnected to the case) against Wigan in 2006

Former Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert (pictured right), celebrating a goal with Thierry Henry (who is entirely unconnected to the case) against Wigan in 2006

The ex-Arsenal player Gilbert (right) is accused of raping a teenager in a rented apartment in Bristol 

The ex-Arsenal player Gilbert (right) is accused of raping a teenager in a rented apartment in Bristol 

CCTV showed the girls enter the building and the alleged victim, who had consumed alcohol and cannabis, was seen leaning against a wall to steady her walk.

Virginia Cornwall, prosecuting, said the girl had earlier been sick and was in a 'vulnerable' state when she arrived at the apartment at 3.25am on April 23, 2016. 

The men used different names, with Roach-Doctrove known to the girls as 'Andre' and Gilbert as 'Kaine'.

Ms Cornwall told Bristol Crown Court the defendants 'immediate interest' was whether the teenagers 'wanted a threesome or foursome'.

Gilbert, who also played for England U17s, was described as 'wired' and 'pumped up' and made several sexual advances towards the teenager before he allegedly raped her as she tried to sleep on a sofa while her friend was in another room.

'She was clearly vulnerable and not consenting,' Ms Cornwall said.

'Her skirt was pulled up and her pants taken off. She tried to get him to stop. She felt limp and helpless.

'Gilbert got off and went to get his friend. The next thing she was aware of was the man she knew as Andre getting on top of her.

'She tried to close her legs and screamed 'No'.'

Gilbert in action for Arsenal
Gilbert playing for England U17s

Gilbert, 30, (pictured left playing for Arsenal and right, for England U17s) allegedly attacked the teenager after a night out in Bristol celebrating a friend's birthday

In a police interview played at Bristol Crown Court, the girl said she later went to find her friend who was 'yelling' at the two men in a separate room because 'they were trying to have sex with her'.

The teenagers left the apartment at around 5am and reported the incident to police who arrested both men.

David Maunder, defending Gilbert, told the court: 'My client was, until 26, a professional footballer.

'He has played for Yeovil and Cardiff locally but more particularly he has played for Arsenal and Leicester City.'

Gilbert's cousin is Queens Park Rangers' Jordan Cousins. 

In an interview, Gilbert, from Willesden, London and Roach-Doctrove, from Harrow, London, both denied having sexual intercourse with the girl.

The trial continues. 

  

 

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