Ex-Colchester United star Callum Harriott to deny rape charge

Ex-U’s winger Callum Harriott, 27, is charged with carrying out an attack on a woman he met on a night out in Colchester in November 2019.

At Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, his barrister Sasha Wass QC indicated an application would be made to dismiss the charge.

A hearing was set for legal arguments on November 26.

While Harriott, who scored 12 goals in 64 appearances for the U’s before he left the club in May, did not enter a plea to a single charge of rape, Ms Wass said he would deny the allegation.

She said Harriott’s team wished to proceed with the case as quickly as possible due to “the nature of the case and the position of the defendant”.

“He is unable to work until the matter is resolved,” she said.

Judge David Pugh said: “That is similar to a lot of people in his position facing this kind of charge.”

A trial date was set for August 22 next year.

Addressing Harriott, Judge Pugh said: “At the trial you will have the right to give evidence, I’m going to release you on bail – that is unconditional.

“Let me just give you two warnings. If you fail to attend court at any time you are required to attend court, that in itself is an offence which may carry a sentence of imprisonment.

“If you fail to attend the trial, the trial could proceed in your absence and your advocate may withdraw.”

At a previous hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, Katharine Houghton, prosecuting, said the complainant had been put to bed on the night in question as she was intoxicated.

“She woke to find the suspect having sex with her,” she said.

“She had been on a night out with people from her work and she had gone for a meal in Colchester.

“She split off from her group in order to meet with some males from Turtle Bay bar.

“She had been on a night out with the defendant, who was flirting with her during the course of that evening. It appears she had been taken to bed and had woken up during the course of the incident.”