Ex-Spandau Ballet singer 'wanted unresponsive sex'

Former Spandau Ballet frontman Ross Davidson allegedly told a woman he is accused of raping that he wanted to have sex with a "still, lifeless, unresponsive" person, a court has heard.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges she woke up in Davidson's bed to find him raping her in London in March 2015, which he denies.

She told Wood Green Crown Court that before the alleged rape the pair had discussed his fantasy of having "sex with a mannequin" and also told the jury he put her in a collar without her consent.

Davidson, 37, performed under the stage name Ross Wild and was known for singing with the pop band Spandau Ballet in 2018.

He also starred in the Queen-themed West End musical We Will Rock You.

The woman told the court: "[He] mentioned he liked the idea of having sex with a mannequin, a person in a helpless state, someone not moving."

Jurors also heard he put her in a collar and wrist cuffs for about 20 minutes without her permission. This made her "confused" and put her in "a state of shock" but he removed the items when she asked him to, she said.

The mannequin discussion took place before the alleged sex attack, on an unspecified date, and the alleged victim told the trial: "Initially he said model and I thought he meant attractive person."

Charlotte Newell KC, defending, said the conversation "obviously related to sexual practices, that was made quite clear", later adding that it was about the person "pretending to be asleep" rather than actually being asleep.

The complainant told the court that Davidson had never asked her to engage in those activities.

The pair met on a dating app and then in person twice, years apart, and had consensual sex on both occasions before the alleged rape, including several times in the days beforehand, the court heard.

Davidson is also on trial accused of attempted rape and sexual assault against another woman, after he allegedly filmed himself groping her in Thailand in 2019. He also denies those charges.

The jury has been told that Davidson pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism in December 2019 against the woman in Thailand.

The trial continues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]