Woman allegedly assaulted after truckie drove her from Melbourne to Mildura

A Mildura truckie drove an acquaintance’s girlfriend hundreds of kilometres before he attacked her, a jury has heard.

A Mildura truck driver accused of raping a woman who he drove from Melbourne to his home has faced the Bendigo County Court.

A jury was told 54-year-old David Ladd had agreed to collect the woman at the behest of her boyfriend.

Prosecutor Zubin Menon told the jury in his opening address the woman had been in a relationship with a man who lived in Mildura and the couple had made arrangements to see each other on March 5, 2019.

Mr Menon said it was alleged that the woman went to lay down in a bedroom, where she had stayed on a previous visit to the property, and Mr Ladd entered the room and lay down beside her.

He allegedly produced a vibrator and pushed it against her, through her jeans, before putting his hand down her pants and penetrating her with a finger.

David Ladd, 54, Mildura truck driver leaves Bendigo County Court, Oct 3, 22.

Mr Menon said Mr Ladd had allegedly then put his hands inside the woman’s top and rubbed her.

When the woman’s boyfriend came to the house, she was in a distressed state and told him Mr Ladd had raped her, the court heard.

Mr Ladd has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Menon said it was alleged the woman also contacted a male friend and told him she had been raped.

Defence barrister David Brustman, KC, said the allegations were denied.

“These things did not happen. End of story,” he told the jury.

The trial will continue on Tuesday.