Sunderland player Jack Diamond on trial accused of raping woman at his house

A professional footballer has gone on trial accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman he originally met on a dating app.

Prosecutors say Sunderland winger Jack Diamond, 23, assaulted the woman after he invited her to his house in Washington, Sunderland, in 2022.

The woman told police she messaged a friend for help following the alleged assaults after fearing that Diamond was contacting his housemate and fellow player about a threesome, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor David Povall told jurors Diamond was "keen" for the complainant to come to his house on the night of the incident, but that it was "agreed that nothing more than cuddling would happen" as she was not on the pill at the time.

The court heard that when the pair got into bed, "although it started with cuddling, it became clear that Jack Diamond wanted more".

Mr Povall said the woman "eventually" consented to some sexual activity, and woke up some time later to Diamond "caressing her".

"She asked him to stop and told him she wasn't in the mood, but he persisted," Mr Povall told jurors.

The court heard Diamond allegedly sexually assaulted and raped the woman, and that she "protested" during both.

"It was only after repeated protests and pleas for him to stop that he desisted," Mr Povall said.

The prosecutor told jurors: "Some time later, she realised he was messaging on his phone, and she feared that he was communicating with (Sunderland goalkeeper) Anthony Patterson, his housemate, who had previously raised the possibility of a threesome.

"She didn't want to get into that situation. Fearful of what might happen, she messaged a friend, asking for help.

"He told her to leave immediately, which she did. Her friend met her at her house, where he saw the very