By Staff Reporter

Last updated 14:52, Friday, 29 August 2008

WORKINGTON Town rugby league player Liam Campbell told a jury he was “absolutely gutted” about an allegation of sexual assault made against him.

Half-back Campbell, 22, of Harcourt Street, Workington, is accused of shoving his hands down a woman’s top and pushing his face into her chest while on the Carlisle to Whitehaven train one night last November.

Campbell denies the accusation, saying all he did to the woman was make a “silly noise” at her.

Yesterday he told the jury at Carlisle Crown Court: “I was talking to Carl Forber so I wasn’t taking that much notice of who was going past. There were no comments to any ladies before we set off at all.

“I was aware of the noise she was making coming down the aisle. I made a ‘waaay’ noise – I don’t know why, it was meant as a tongue in cheek thing. She turned around very aggressively and swore at me.

“The boyfriend leapt across the table at me and I sat back down.

“I didn’t touch her with any part of my body at all.”

He said he was sitting next to the window and was prevented from standing fully upright because of a table. It would have been physically impossible for him to lean over the 6ft man next to him and put his head in her cleavage, he said.

He admitted he had been drunk, after drinking seven pints of Fosters, but said it was not true that the woman had been pulled across the table, as witness Tracy Kerr told the court she had seen.

Campbell denied a performance of the New Zealand Haka chant had taken place, as witness Ann-Marie Hill had told the court. He also denied knowing about a handbag which was allegedly taken.

Campbell was arrested at Maryport train station that night along with fellow rugby player Carl Forber.

Mr Forber was pointed out by the alleged victim’s sister, police said, but was released when the alleged victim told them they had the wrong man.

Marie Cuthell, who was sitting three seats behind Campbell on the train, told the court: “The lads were full of drink. They were cheering and shouting things like, ‘Get your breasts out love’ at lasses going past.

“Then one lass – she had a strapless boob tube type thing – she got on and went” and Mrs Cuthell made a motion of shoving her breasts out and wiggling them.

Phillip Boyd, prosecuting, said her view had been obstructed.

She replied: “I saw it through the middle of the seats.”

Dexter Miller, who also plays for Workington Town, and Leslie Ash, who coached the club at the time, both told the court they had seen no sexual abuse.

Mr Boyd said they would not have seen it because they were the last to get on the train.

The trial continues.