Two Afghan migrants allegedly raped and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old autistic girl on a busy London commuter train.
Inner London Crown Court heard Baryalai Rahimi, 25, and Mirebadurahman Sadat, 29, allegedly followed the child onto a Southeastern service on February 5 after spotting her at a Kent train station.
Rahimi, of Southall, west London, and Sadat, of Cricklewood, north-west London, have pleaded not guilty to all 20 charges including rape and multiple counts of sexual activity with a child.
Rahimi is accused of raping the 14-year-old inside the train toilets three times, while Sadat is alleged to have sexually assaulted her twice.
Jurors were shown the child’s police interview in court following the suspected attack.
When asked about what fellow passengers on board were doing at the time, the girl said: “No one was really looking at us. Everyone was just on their phones.”
CCTV shown to the court appeared to show Rahimi walking with girl to the toilet and brushing past a number of commuters.
After entering the cubicle, the Afghan migrant allegedly raped her three times.
During the police interview, the child said she was “scared” of Rahimi and claimed he had been “in control” of her.
CCTV footage appeared to show the pair leaving the toilet after several minutes, before sitting two rows behind another passenger.
Richard Witcombe, prosecuting, told the court Rahimi and Sadat “each appear to have an object in their hand” and appeared to have communicated to each other on the phone.
After Rahimi left the toilet, the footage appeared to show the men exchanging words before Sadat sat down next to the girl, who had been sitting in a window seat.
Jurors heard Rahimi allegedly told her of Sadat: “We share everything. We share girls, we share drinks.”
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The video appeared “almost as if Mr Rahimi was handing over the girl to Mr Sadat”, Mr Witcome told the court.
After the girl got up to go to the toilet, Sadat followed her before attempting to open the door, jurors heard.
The prosecution said the two men were later spotted on CCTV following the child off the train after it arrived into London Bridge station.
On the day of the alleged attack, the girl had been reported missing after running away from home.
She was discovered by officers at Peterborough Station shortly before 11pm.
Following his arrest, Rahimi told officers the girl told him she was 17 years old and claimed: “What happened was all started and instigated by her and was consensual.”
Sadat, meanwhile, said in a prepared statement he has “memory issues”, but denied the offences he is accused of.
Rahimi denies three counts of rape, two of sexual assault, one of assault by penetration and six alternative counts of sexual activity with a child.
Sadat denies two counts of assault by penetration, two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and four alternative counts of sexual activity with a child.
The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.
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