The jury has been sent out in the trial of a former pub landlord accused of rape and sexual assault.

Kevin Tweedy, 66, who ran The Artichoke in Norwich, denies raping the woman on the night of July 20, 2015. 

Tweedy, who still lives at the pub on Magdalen Road, denies sexually assaulting the woman between January 1, 2013, and March 31 of the same year.

During the four-day trial at King's Lynn Crown Court, the jury have been shown a video of a police interview with the woman after she came forward in June, 2022.

She described how Tweedy raped her in 2015 after he had been out drinking, despite her pleading with him to stop.

She also described how he had held her down on a sofa and tried to kiss her in the 2013 attack, hurting her arms.

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, for the prosecution, said she had given a compelling account.

Kevin Tweedy was formerly the landlord of The Artichoke pub, in NorwichKevin Tweedy was formerly the landlord of The Artichoke pub, in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

But Stephen Rose KC, for Tweedy, said affectionate messages exchanged by the pair painted a very different picture.

One from the woman to Tweedy said: "Thanks for a fantastic evening - many moments I will remember forever."

Mr Rose said if there was a sexual assault, there was no reference to it in the messages.

Under cross examination from Mr Rose, the woman denied making up both incidents, insisting she had been attacked and raped by Tweedy.

Tweedy was described in court as a man of good character and no previous convictions, of whom character witnesses spoke highly.

Sending the jury out to consider its verdict on Thursday afternoon, Recorder Rouse KC, who is presiding over the trial, said they should continue their discussions until they reached a majority verdict.

They will continue their deliberations on Friday.