Man accused of holding murdered girl hostage denies sexually assaulting her while she slept
Luke Harlow, who admits grooming the tragic 15-year-old schoolgirl, brands his co-accused a ‘liar’
One of two men accused of keeping murdered schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood prisoner has denied trying to sexually assault her while she slept at his home.
A jury heard that Luke Harlow denies that allegation, and another claim that Kayleigh, 15, fled his property half-naked following the attack.
The 28-year-old told Nottingham Crown Court that the allegations were “complete lies” fabricated by her killer Stephen Beadman.
Harlow has admitted grooming the tragic teen online and unlawfully having sex with her but claims he "nodded off" in the hours before she left his house in Ibstock, Leicestershire.
During the trial the court heard Kayleigh was raped and killed by landscape gardener Beadman after "escaping" from Harlow's housing association property in the early hours of November 15 last year.
Beadman, 29, who lives on the same street as Harlow, has admitted rape and murder although he and Harlow deny falsely imprisoning Kayleigh from around 9pm on November 14 until around 3am the following day.
RELATED STORIES
During his evidence on the eighth day of his trial, Harlow was cross-examined by Beadman's barrister, Anthony Metzer QC.
While accusing Harlow of allegedly raping the teenager, Mr Metzer said: "What I suggest happened is that you and Mr Beadman had a fierce argument because Mr Beadman was trying to stop this happening?"
Harlow responded: "That is one of Mr Beadman's many lies."
Dressed in a blue jumper and dark trousers, and wearing rosary beads around his neck, Harlow went on to deny that he had punched Beadman in the stomach and suffered bruising as a result.
Mr Metzer further claimed that the pair’s fight, which lasted between 30 and 40 minutes, woke Kayleigh up and when she was told what it was about she demanded to leave.
Harlow told Mr Metzer: "All of that's complete lies. I wasn't awake."
Responding to questions from his own lawyer, Gary Bell QC, Harlow said he was not working when he met up with Kayleigh after dropping out of a media studies course.
The former warehouse and call-centre worker told the court he was ashamed of grooming Kayleigh and had been "stupid and irresponsible".
Asked how well he knew Beadman, Harlow replied: "Not that well. We grew up on the same council estate."
Mr Bell then asked Harlow if he had thought Beadman was capable of carrying out the "terrible" offences committed against Kayleigh.
"No, not at all," Harlow answered. "I would never have let him in my house if I thought he was anything like that."
He said both he and Beadman were "quite drunk" on the night Kayleigh was killed, adding that his night ended when he went to sleep on a mattress in his lounge.
Harlow told the jury he woke the next morning to find Kayleigh had gone and walked to Beadman's home to see if she was there.
Explaining why he had not immediately contacted the police, Harlow told jurors: "I didn't think anything bad would have happened to her.
“I just thought she would be back at some point to pick her stuff up."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368