Jury out in trial of Suffolk firefighter accused of rape

The jury in the trial of a Suffolk firefighter accused of raping a schoolgirl has retired to consider its verdicts.

Before Ipswich Crown Court is 46-year-old John Barnes of Cherry Tree Close, Yaxley, near Eye.

He has denied two offences of raping a girl under 13, three offences of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, two offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two offences of assaulting a child under 13 by touching.

The offences allegedly took place between 2018 and 2021, when the victim was aged between nine and 11.

The court has heard that Barnes had admitted sending the girl a picture of his genitals via WhatsApp but said he had done it accidentally.

The alleged victim has claimed Barnes, who has no previous con