A MAN accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Dorchester crashed his car into a hedge while trying to evade police, a jury has heard.

Adrian Cordery is facing one charge of rape and another of threatening with a knife, relating to an alleged incident on school playing fields in Dorchester at about 9.30pm on December 5 2019.

During the trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, prosecutor Barry McElduff read out a statement by Alex Roach, a Dorset Police officer.

Mr Roach was asked to locate a Mercedes C-class car owned by Cordery on February 10. This was due to a DNA sample provided by Cordery on January 27 which the court heard had matched the DNA profile obtained from swabs of the alleged rape victim.

Mr Roach said he was waiting at Max Gate roundabout for Cordery’s car from around 6.20pm. Cordery’s silver Mercedes was spotted at 6.36pm entering Dorchester. 

Mr Roach said: “We got behind the vehicle and activated the vehicle’s blue lights. The Mercedes continued towards the next roundabout, entered the roundabout, turned the whole way around and back towards the Max Gate roundabout. 

“It was clear that it wasn’t going to stop.

“The vehicle entered the Max Gate roundabout and went around the roundabout twice then went straight on towards the roundabout that leads towards Broadmayne and travelling in excess of 40 miles per hour. It was clear to me that the driver was pushing the car hard.”

Mr Roach described the Mercedes turning back towards Max Gate roundabout again, taking the turning for the A35 and 'accelerating hard' along the eastbound carriageway.
The police continued following the Mercedes but it was pulling away as it turned right at the Stinsford roundabout on Hollow Hill.

The court heard that it was on this road that the police found the Mercedes. The driver had seemingly lost control and crashed into a hedge.

The car was unoccupied, but a trail of items were also found in a nearby field, including a red tent and a camping stove. 

Cordery was arrested the next day on suspicion of rape.

The trial continues.