Riders face UK sex trial
TWO Ipswich international speedway stars have faced an English court for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage fan in her hotel room last August.
The trial of Darcy Ward, 19, formerly of Brassall, and Nick Morris, 17, from Camira, is facing three charges of sexual assault and one of rape began earlier this week.
The court was told the alleged 17-year-old victim had consumed copious amounts of alcohol and could not remember what had occurred the previous night.
She had travelled to Dorset with a friend for the speedway meet between the Birmingham Brummies and the Poole Pirates.
After the men had left, the teenager's friend returned to the room later in the evening and arranged for her to go to the hospital. Ward and Morris were arrested the next day.
They denied the charges, saying the actions were consensual.
Part of the alleged attack was filmed on a mobile phone and was played to the jury.
Ward, who rides for the Poole Pirates in the UK, is due to return to Australia within days to compete in the national speedway championships.
Late last year it was announced that Ward secured a place in the world's premier Speedway competition in 2012, the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship.
The £5000 ($7450) bail for Ward allows him to continue travelling.
A date for the estimated 10-day jury fixture is still to be confirmed for mid-year.
