US navy man accused of raping teacher he met while docked in Scotland

A US navy member is on trial for allegedly raping a teacher he met in Scotland.

Christian Patten, 22, is claimed to have attacked the 27-year-old at her flat in Glasgow city centre on January 13, 2020.

Court papers state Patten, while the woman was under the influence of alcohol and incapable of giving or withholding consent, kissed her on the mouth.

Patten is said to have ripped and removed her clothing, carried her, bit her and pushed her on the body.

It is then stated that Patten raped her.

The court was read agreed evidence known as a joint minute by prosecutor John Macpherson, which confirmed that Patten was a US citizen serving in the navy on the USS Colorado docked at HM Naval Base Clyde.

A transcript of a conversation between Patten and navy colleague Marcus Trammel from the night of the incident was also read to the jury.

The pair appeared to converse about each other’s locations during the night.

This included the Hard Rock Cafe and a casino.

Patten used the codeword “Flamingo” throughout the six-hour chat log to indicate that he was safe.

Medical evidence stated that the woman was examined two days later.

It was found that she had two bruises on the right side of her neck, one of which was consistent with being a “love bite”.

Patten’s DNA was also confirmed to be on the woman’s body.

The woman told the jury she was a biomedical engineering student when she matched with Patten on Tinder earlier that day.

She claimed that she was not interested in Patten romantically, adding that the pair met for dinner at a city centre restaurant at 7pm before heading to a nearby bar.

The woman claimed she did not drink at the time but had alcohol with Patten, which was taken as a “shot”.

She said: “I felt safe and he could be my friend.”

The woman claimed she felt drunk and lost her balance after leaving the bar.

She added: “I thought he was a gentleman at that time and thought I was drunk and couldn’t walk home by myself, so he offered to walk me home.”

The woman stated that she was kissed and held during the walk home.

The trial continues before judge Lord Braid.