Convicted Carlisle rapist accused of other sex crimes testifies

On the second day of his trial at the city’s Crown Court, 48-year-old Barrie O’Keefe insisted he was not guilty of the 2006 rape, despite the jury finding him not guilty after the trial.

He is now on trial. He is accused of sexually harassing and engaging in sexual acts with another 15-year-old boy and of raping a 20-year-old man. These crimes are also said to have taken place in 2006.

In both cases, according to the prosecution, the defendant committed the crimes after administering alcohol and drugs to the victims.

O’Keefe, formerly of Denton Holme, gave evidence yesterday under questioning by his defence lawyer Brendan Burke.

He first pointed out that the defendant had been jailed in 2006 on charges against another 15-year-old boy from Carlisle. “I was found guilty, but I didn’t do it,” O’Keefe said.

This year, he said, he had been an avid fisherman, but he denied that he had been “constantly drinking” and had given alcohol to the 15-year-old, the alleged victim of the new crimes.

The defendant said, “No. I’m not a heavy drinker.” O’Keefe denied ever having participated in night fishing trips. “I just didn’t do night fishing,” he said. When asked about the alleged sexual harassment, he said, “That’s not true.”

When asked why the teenager lied, O’Keefe suggested he may have been asking for “some kind of compensation.” However, prosecutors pointed out that the alleged victim never asked for compensation.

When asked about the other alleged victim, the defendant said he had no interest in football and did not supply the man with alcohol or cannabis. “He said you raped him,” Mr Burke said.

“Not true,” said O’Keefe.

Then prosecutor Peter Wilson questioned the defendant. The lawyer asked O’Keefe: “Why are you hanging out with a 15-year-old boy in your free time?” The defendant replied: “I’m not going to say you can’t fish here.”

When questioned further, O’Keefe said he could not remember whether he had testified at the rape trial that led to his conviction.

The defendant confirmed that he believed the two alleged victims had “jumped on the bandwagon” following the earlier rape conviction. “Are you a liar, Mr. O’Keefe?” asked Mr. Wilson. “No, I’m not,” he replied.

The prosecutor asked why O’Keefe had admitted during his 2006 interview that he knew the teenager he was accused of sexually abusing, but had denied this to police two years ago.

“I probably didn’t hear what the question was at the time,” said O’Keefe (pictured). He denied wanting to “groom” the teenager.(Image: Newsquest)

Mr Wilson said O’Keefe used “fishing, alcohol and friendship” to lure the two alleged victims away from other people and into places where he could attack them.

“No, not at all,” said O’Keefe.

The process continues.