Photo Credit: Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News

Photo Credit: Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News

A woman who caught a ride on the morning of August 19 is alleging that the driver of the vehicle took her to a secluded area at Beef Island and raped her.

Anthony Alexander, a native of Jamaica who is self employed, was arraigned in court yesterday, August 22 with the indictable charge of rape.

Alexander was granted $70,000 bail signed with two sureties and $10,000 of that amount is to be paid in cash.

He was ordered by Magistrate Tamia Richards to report to the Police Station four times per week and surrender his travel documents. Alexander was also told to have no contact with the complainant.

The court heard that the defendant and the complainant knew each other.

Prosecutor Leslie Ann Faulkner in laying out the allegations, told the court that on August 19 around 10:45 in the morning, the complainant was in the area of East End seeking a ride to Parham Town. At the time, she was offered a ride by Alexander, who was proceeding in the same direction.

Faulkner said during the ride, it is alleged that Alexander began to make advances at the complainant by kissing and touching her; however, she asked him to stop but he did not pay heed to her pleas.

It is alleged that the defendant drove pass the woman's destination [Parham Town] and headed towards Beef Island. Dduring this time, the woman made attempts to open the vehicle's door with the hope that he would stop, but he didn't.

Faulkner said Alexander took the woman to an area known as Little Mountain at Beef Island where he then climbed over on the passenger seat where the woman was sitting. She said despite pleas by the woman for him to stop, he forced himself on her and proceeded to rape her.

It is alleged that the defendant was not wearing any protection during the incident.

Following the ordeal, the complainant allegedly stood at the roadside where she got a ride from a safari taxi to the East End Police Station. She was taken to the Peebles Hospital where she was examined.

Alexander was arrested and charged on August 20.

Alexander briefly told the court that he did not rape the woman and that the complainant has since sent a letter to the Police Station.

Alexander will return to court on October 2.