Rape accused ‘waited in Belfast city centre for an hour’

A court has heard police claims that a 19-year-old man accused of rape waited for a “vulnerable” woman in Belfast city centre for an hour.

Marko Dolhir, an Iranian national with an address at Sandringham Drive in Leeds, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.

The charges relate to an incident in the Little May Street area of the city on Sunday 25 November.

Dolhir denies the allegations, telling police any contact was consensual.

A detective constable told the court that the accused had been in the area for up to an hour and that, within two minutes of meeting the woman, he pulled her into an alleyway and raped her.

The court was further told that CCTV footage was used to identify him.

A defence solicitor told the court Dolhir has been living in the UK for two years.

He also stressed that his client had answered all queries during three days of police questioning.

“He gave a full account which, in essence, amounted to a consent defence,” the lawyer said.

But the detective insisted Dolhir only made that case after DNA evidence was put to him.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall said: “If it’s correct that there’s an element of predatory waiting for someone vulnerable to come along, I have to say I’m not prepared to grant bail.”

Dolhir was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks’ time.