Bristol grime artist Solo 45 wanted to ‘play rape game', court hears

Andy Anokye is accused of raping and falsely imprisoning young women
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A grime artist accused of falsely imprisoning and repeatedly assaulting four women told one of his victims he wanted to play a "rape game" with her, a court has heard.

Andy Anokye, 32, who is known by the stage name Solo 45, denies 31 charges against him, including 22 counts of rape and five counts of false imprisonment.

He also denies two charges of assault by penetration and two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A series of text messages sent by Anokye and one of his alleged victims were read out to Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

One from Anokye read: "I want to play a game with you. It is very rough but you may like it."

 Anokye was a member of grime collective Boy Better Know
Getty Images

He then told the woman they would go to Primark and buy "cheap clothes".

She replied by asking whether the clothes would be ripped off, adding that she did not think items sold there were "sexy".

Anokye replied: "It is the raping part that is. The game is called catch me and rape me. You will be in tears, bruised and in agony."

Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court, the woman said the conversation caught her "off guard".

She told the jury she was "concerned" by the messages but "never thought this would happen".

Anokye is accused of waterboarding the woman, holding her against her will and raping her at a later date.

He filmed part of the alleged incident and sent her the footage, the court heard.

In later messages, Anokye told her: "I made it perfectly clear that you could leave at any time.

"I also asked you not to speak as if you were under duress."

Anokye denies all 31 charges against him
Getty Images for Red Bull

During cross-examination by Sally O'Neil QC, representing Anokye, the woman said she was aware he became sexually aroused at the sight of another person’s tears.

A friend of the woman said she told of her abuse at the hands of Anokye months after the alleged incident.

"The first thing she said to me was 'he waterboarded me'," the friend told the court.

"They were together having a really nice evening together, or what she thought was a nice evening.

"She woke up and Andy said 'now you will learn who's the boss' and basically ran a bath for her of really cold water, freezing cold.

"He proceeded to dunk her head under the water. She said she was literally tortured.

"She said how she had been raped. She said she was terrified and she was scared she was going to die."

Anokye, of Millennium Promenade, Bristol, denies all charges against him. The trial continues.

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