Tennis star Anne Keothavong's husband tells rape trial he didn't woo woman by playing Guns N' Roses

The husband of former British tennis number one Anne Keothavong denied that he played Guns N' Roses on a silver boombox before raping a woman.

Andrew Bretherton, 49, who is married to the tennis star told jurors he had never owned a silver boom box, and rejected much of the alleged victim's testimony as untrue.

The corporate lawyer and his alleged victim went to the defendant's upmarket Kensington flat after a romantic date in May 2008.

It was there that the American claimed she was raped leaving her with devastating injuries after she was pinned face down on the bed and nearly suffocated.

Mr Bretherton told jurors Ms Keothavong, with whom he has two young children, has been supportive of him throughout the legal process.  

The husband of former British tennis number one Anne Keothavong, Andrew Bretherton (pictured), is accused of raping a woman in his flat in 2008, following a romantic date. Bretherton denies the allegations 

The woman told Inner London Crown Court how she had gone back to Bretherton's flat where he raped her.

After kissing her and leading her to the bedroom, the woman claimed Bretherton 'started to get more assertive', 'very handsy' and 'going in for the kill' when he got up and pulled out a 1980s or 1990s cassette player and put on Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses.

However, taking the stand today, Bretherton denied ever owning a boom box.

He told jurors 'this has been the worst week of his life' listening to 'lies' told about him, which have destroyed his once-lucrative career since first being accused of rape in 2019.

Bretherton said the first he heard about the woman's allegation was on January 3, 2019, almost 11 years after the night at his flat in May 2008.

The alleged victim also described Bretherton's 'clean and sterily empty' flat with a fridge that had nothing in it apart from sparkling water, only for Bretherton to tell the court today that he does not like sparkling water. 

The woman had claimed Bretherton gave her a glass when they arrived at the flat.

Father-of-two Bretherton appeared emotional and struggled to talk when he took the stand, looking up to his father in the viewing gallery as he was asked questions about his childhood in Lancashire.

When questioned by his defence lawyer Sarah Forshaw KC about whether he liked sparkling water she added 'you either like it or you don't.'

Bretherton said: 'I never bought sparkling water.'

Throughout the questioning the lawyer told the court he did not remember a lot of details of the evening, but rejected most of the woman's claims.

He said they had been on two dates for dinner, and had evenings out together – one with his friends, one with hers.

He said: 'I remember going into the bedroom with her, which was entirely consensual, and starting to kiss and touch each other, and take each other's clothes off in bed.

'I remember she was getting down to her underwear, I think we both were.

'The dimmer switch was on low, I remember she asked for the light to be turned down. My recollection is that we are both clothed in our underwear.

'There was a small bedside light table with a lamp on, we continued to kiss and touch each other.'

When asked if he recalls what the woman was wearing, he said: 'I remember she was wearing a thong because it had silver bits on the front.'

Ms Forshaw asked him: 'It is suggested by her that her top never came off, is that true or not true?'

Bretherton responded: 'I remember her bra coming off. When we came to having intercourse we were both naked.'

Inner London Crown Court was told by Bretherton that the sex was 'entirely consensual'. Pictured: Bretherton with his tennis star wife, Anne Keothavong, in 2019

He insisted his wife, tennis champion Anne Keothavong, has been supportive throughout and even amidst the allegations their marriage has remained strong.

When asked if his wife had stood by him since the allegation were made, he said: 'Yes.'

He said when it transpired he was going to be charged, he informed his employer and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

He was suspended, then handed in his resignation, and said he has struggled to get find work since.

Bretherton, who denies two counts of rape, will continue to give evidence at Inner London Crown Court when the trial continues on Monday.        

Earlier today, Inner London Crown Court was told that the sex was 'entirely consensual'.

In police interviews read to the court, Bretherton denied the allegations and said: '100 percent, 100 percent it was entirely consensual. I was brought up to respect women.'

In the interview on 15 January 2019, 12 days after he was informed about the allegation, he added: 'It would have been consensual, there was absolutely no way I would have forced her to do anything she would not have wanted to do.'

Describing the events in the flat, he said: 'I think I helped her take off her underwear.

'She said she wanted to turn the side lamp off.'

After describing them sitting naked on the bed, he said: 'Then I remember that she was on all fours on the bed.

'I remember it was entirely consensual, but we started to have sex.'

When asked about the alleged rape, Bretherton said: 'I think there was an impact. So she reacted.

'It was awkward, I can't really remember her saying something except that you should get dressed.'

The alleged victim then left the flat, and Bretherton said: 'We didn't really speak after that.'

Asked by the police interviewer if he ever told anyone about what happened, he said: 'I was embarrassed.'

Reading from the police interview describing the date, prosecutor Mr Brian O'Neill KC told the court today (FRI): 'From my recollection it would have been quite fun, she was quite flamboyant and dramatic.

'She obviously made an impression with me, the way she projected herself.'

In police interviews read to the court, Bretherton (pictured) denied the allegations and said: '100 percent, 100 percent it was entirely consensual. I was brought up to respect women'

The alleged victim has claimed they went on four dates but Bretherton only recalls two, one to a steak restaurant and then the second to Devonshire Arms 'a few minutes' from his flat – the night of the alleged rapes.

He told the case officer: 'I remember at least two dates, I don't remember the details of the other dates, the steak place may have been the first one but it was a long time ago.'

Earlier the court was also told that the alleged victim requested the CPS reimburse her between $1,000 and $1,500 for flights to attend the trial as well as $2,000 and a further $3,000 for further accommodation and transport.

In an email she said: 'In regards to reimbursement, I will need $1,000 to $1,500 round trip flight reimbursement (I presume you do not cover business class) and $2,000 up to $3,000 for accommodation for two to three weeks, plus incidentals (taxis to and from court, and to know of any transport, meals, food and beverage allowance per diem.)'

Later that day, the alleged victim emailed the same person to say: 'No one from CPS has been in touch with me in regard to reimbursement of travel costs, or what, if any limits there may be to travel expenses.'

The jury were told she was evasive when providing medical and therapy records, and accused the Crown Prosecution Service of blackmail for insisting she must provide the records to have a chance in court, insisting that she is concerned for her anonymity and safety.

She saw a therapist regularly before and after the alleged rape, but records were provided only between 1st January and 30th May 2008.

On the 21 January 2021, the woman's therapist responded to the CPS requesting her records, by saying: 'Owing to a downsizing in 2020, all other records have been destroyed.'

Medical reports revealed the alleged victim had a fissure on the outside of her anus, and one bruise on her thigh.

An expert in sexual crimes, used by Bretherton's defence, said: 'The injury in this case is a minor tear, though it may be very symptomatic.'

After describing the pain that is possible from a small anal fissure, he said: 'The tear in this case could have been caused by consensual and non-consensual intercourse.'