A FORMER RAF engineer who served in 10 tours of Afghanistan has been described as an “arrogant sexual predator” in court, where he is on trial for sexual assault.

The jury at Winchester Crown Court retired this morning (August 23) to consider their verdict having listened to the evidence in the trial against David Ashford, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Basingstoke Rugby Football Club on November 11 last year.

Mr Ashford was yesterday (August 22) acquitted of three counts relating to two indecent exposures and one sexual assault, after Judge Keith Cutler advised the jury there was no evidence to answer to relating to these offences.

In her closing speech yesterday, prosecutor Sarah Morris labelled 33-year-old Mr Ashford as an “arrogant sexual predator” who was sexually frustrated and unhappy in his marriage to his wife of six years, Jade, a primary school teacher.

The jury of eight men and four women previously heard the alleged victim give evidence accusing the father-of-two of pulling her into a store cupboard at the rugby club, in Pack Lane, Kempshott, where he allegedly touched her breast and tried to kiss her, before later putting his hand up her dress touching her thigh.

However, defence barrister, Nick Tucker, advised the jury this morning in his closing speech to consider the discrepancies between the witnesses’ evidence and their credibility, adding: “Nice looking young women are capable of fabrication.”

He advised the jury that a verdict of ‘not guilty’ did not mean a defendant was innocent, adding: “Not guilty is not a badge of innocence, saying she lied and he didn’t. It’s the jury saying the prosecution didn’t make us sure.”

He referred to Mr Ashford as “a bit different” adding: “He’s probably further on the spectrum than most. He’s on trial for being a sexual predator not his lack of social skills.”

Judge Keith Cutler advised the jury that Mr Ashford is a man of “previous good character” having no previous convictions against him.

Mr Ashford received a caution aged 19 for criminal damage.

He advised the jury not to put “too much weight” on second-hand evidence from witnesses.

This article was updated on February 27, 2019  to reflect the fact Mr Ashford had been acquitted of three counts - two of indecent exposures and one sexual assault - on August 22 and omit a description of one of these incidents.