Court hears alleged rapist had ‘peculiar sexual interest’ in ladies’ tights

The woman, who was 70 at the time of the attack a year ago, died following an unrelated fall earlier this year, but today (Monday) a jury at Bradford Crown Court was shown a video recording of the interview she gave to police in Halifax just hours after the attempted rape.

Leeds man Nigel Carroll, who is alleged to have had “a peculiar sexual interest in ladies tights”, has admitted being involved in the burglary at the woman’s home, but he has denied attempting to rape her or sexually assaulting her during the early evening break-in.

The pensioner described how the intruder pushed her onto a bed, pulled down her jeans and told her he wanted to “feel her tights”.

After the attempted rape the intruder masturbated into his victim’s tights which were stolen along with other property including various items of jewellery.

Carroll, 53, of Wykebeck Avenue, Osmondthorpe, Leeds, is expected to claim that he carried out the burglary with an accomplice who must have been responsible for the sex attack on the pensioner.

But prosecutor Kitty Taylor told the jury that Carroll also faced two further allegations of burglary relating to break-ins at houses in Station Road, Birkenshaw, and Alwoodley Lane, Leeds, at around the same time.

Carroll has pleaded not guilty to both those burglary offences, but Mrs Taylor said in each case ladies’ tights were again stolen.

“The prosecution say that the defendant’s sexual interest in ladies’ tights is his hallmark or characteristic,” said Mrs Taylor.

She alleged that a pair of mauve or purple tights found in a bag at Carroll’s home had been stolen during the Station Road burglary.

The jury heard that Carroll had previously done gardening work at the large detached house in Alwoodley Lane and mobile phone analysis indicated that he was in the area of the two burgled homes at the time of the break-ins.

Mrs Taylor said the mobile phone downloads also revealed film footage of the ankles and tights of unknown females sitting on public transport.

“The prosecution case is this defendant has a peculiar sexual interest in ladies’ tights to the point where he is prepared to commit criminal offences to satisfy it,” alleged Mrs Taylor.

The trial is expected to last about eight days.

Proceeding