A BOXING champion raped a young mum in her bathroom as her children slept just feet away, a court has heard.
Commonwealth gold medalist Scott Fitzgerald, 32, is said to have attacked the woman following a night of drinking in April 2020.
The former British title-holder is accused of exposing himself to the alleged victim in the kitchen of a house before following her to the bathroom.
Jurors at Preston Crown Court heard the boxer then pushed her over the sink and the bath and raped her.
Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told the court: “She was begging him to stop.
“She was certainly upset – she felt scared.”
The jury heard that, after she managed to push him off, Fitzgerald then said: “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
It is alleged he then followed her downstairs and continued to apologise for what he had done.
Before he left the house, he allegedly warned her if she said anything about what had happened “no-one would believe her because it was her word against his”.
The alleged victim broke down as she said she’s still haunted four years later.
Giving evidence from behind a screen, she told the court: “It’s been four years. All I can remember is what happened in that bathroom because it will never leave my head.”
The alleged incident is said to have taken place between 6.30am and 7am in April 2020.
Fitzgerald was one of four men drinking at the house, while the alleged victim’s kids slept upstairs.
The court heard two of them eventually left, and then Fitzgerald gave the other man £40 to go out and buy cocaine.
Mr Haworth, prosecuting, added: “It was during that period of time that the Crown says the defendant raped her, when the two of them were the only adults in the house.”
In a video interview with police, the woman said she was in the kitchen with Fitzgerald when he started talking about sex and asking her for sex.
He exposed himself and told her to touch him, which she refused, the jury heard.
In an attempt to remove herself from the situation she said she went upstairs to use the toilet and was only partway through when Fitzgerald followed her upstairs and went into the bathroom.
She claims hastily tried to pull up her tights, but he forced her over the washbasin and then the bath to rape her.
Fitzgerald was arrested following the incident four years ago.
He told police the woman had consented to sex and claimed she’d been the one who had “made all the running”.
Fitzgerald denies wrongdoing.
The trial continues.