PhD student accused of rape arrested after texting woman a year later saying 'I am really sorry for raping you', court told

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A former Oxford PhD student accused of rape was arrested after he sent his victim an apology by text message a year after he allegedly carried out the attack, a court heard.

Sherman Ip, a physicist now enrolled at Warwick University as part of the Oxford- Warwick statistics programme, was charged with raping a young woman in his flat after she felt compelled to report his message, which read: “I am really sorry for raping you.”

Standing trial at Southwark Crown Court, he is alleged to have carried out the attack at his student flat in Euston Square, London, in May 2013.

In the message, which was shown to the court, read: “I am so sorry for emotionally abusing you and manipulating you to do things you didn’t want to do. I am really sorry for raping you. I am really sorry for hurting you. It’s all my fault.”

Prosecuting, David Povall told jurors that Mr Ip, whom he described as “bright and capable”, had forced himself upon the woman after she attempted to avoid his earlier advances on a nearby sofa.

“They were sitting on the sofa together and as they talked he obviously wasn't listening to her because he kept trying to grope her and remove her clothes,” he added.

“She stopped him because she wanted to talk and moved over to sit on the bed to put some distance between them.

“That was unwise because he came over and forced her down onto the bed and started trying to remove her lower clothing.

“She started crying during the sex and he obviously noticed that because he asked her if she was alright - but continued in any event.

“She felt frozen as it was happening and she explained she didn't resist to stop him. The sex ended and she remained there for a short time, then they both left.”

Mr Povall said that a “very long delay” had ensued after the woman had reported the crime, meaning that the defendant was not charged until late in 2015. “That explains why we are dealing with a 2013 case in 2017,” he added.

Ip, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, denies rape.

The trial continues. - The Telegraph