Hugh Sweeney rape trial: Prahran man pleads not guilty to rape after Public House pub session

A Prahran man denied raping a 21-year-old woman after the pair allegedly met on the dancefloor at Richmond bar Public House.

A Prahran man convinced a young woman to stay at his apartment before allegedly raping her while she slept, a court was told.

Hugh Sweeney fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via videolink on Friday where he was committed to stand trial for rape.

Sweeney, who pleaded not guilty to a single charge of rape, was accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in his bed in 2015.

The court heard Sweeney met the woman on the dance floor at Richmond bar Public House hours before the alleged incident.

The pair allegedly chatted and smoked for 10 minutes before the woman said she was going home.

Sweeney allegedly told the woman he had just ordered an Uber and insisted on dropping her home after learning she had planned to walk back.

The woman told police she reluctantly agreed and got in the Uber.

Sweeney allegedly told the driver to head towards Chapel St but the woman asked why they were going the opposite direction to her home, the court heard.

The woman told police Sweeney allegedly asked her if she wanted to go to his house but she refused.

Sweeney allegedly promised not to “try anything”, the court was told.

The pair arrived at Sweeney’s Prahran apartment where he allegedly gave her a change of clothes and they both got into his bed.

The woman allegedly said “alright, good night” then closed her eyes.

The court heard Sweeney allegedly kissed the woman on the neck.

“No, stop,” the woman allegedly said.

“You said you wouldn’t try anything.”

The woman told police she later woke to the feeling of Sweeney having sex with her.

Sweeney was allegedly kneeling between her thighs, the court was told.

The woman allegedly jumped up and said “what are you doing?”, grabbed her clothes and ran out of the room crying.

Sweeney allegedly followed her, saying, “don’t call me a rapist!” but she told him to “f*ck off” before running outside, the court heard.

The woman called her mum repeatedly who came to pick up her up.

She allegedly told her mum she had been raped but did not want to report it.

The woman allegedly told her psychiatrist and several friends that she had been raped by Sweeney but did not report the incident to police until February 2017.

The woman allegedly saw Sweeney at a bar in March 2017 and approached him and told him he hurt her.

The pair had a conversation about the night and he gave her his number and address to give to police, the court was told.

Sweeney was arrested by appointment in July 2018 after the case was delayed due to the woman being out of touch with police.

The court heard the woman initially reported the incident to police when she was at a police station dealing with other matters.

The police informant said the woman had told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted several times, but wanted to focus on reporting Sweeney’s alleged attack, because it had affected her the most.

The informant also revealed police had been unable to find a record that Sweeney had ever ordered an Uber on the night of the alleged attack.

Magistrate Fran Medina ruled there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction, committing Sweeney to trial in the County Court.

Sweeney, who the court heard was “vehemently” fighting the charges, had his bail extended.

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