Neville father told alleged victim he ‘liked the chase’

A woman has claimed the father of former England footballers Gary and Phil Neville sexually assaulted her in her car and said: “I like the chase”.

The alleged victim said Neville Neville, 63, drunkenly forced himself upon her after she gave him a lift home following a night out in his home town of Bury, Greater Manchester.

He was said to have lunged at her as he thrust his tongue down her throat before he put his hand up her shirt and grabbed her breast.

The middle-aged woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then alleges that Neville placed his hands down her trousers, pushed her thighs apart and put his “big fat” hands inside her underwear.

But a jury at Bolton Crown Court heard the defendant later told police the sexual encounter was consensual and progressed after they shared a “passionate” kiss as he went to leave the vehicle.

His sons sat in the public gallery as the case against their father was outlined by Crown prosecutor Peter Cadwallader.

The alleged victim later came into court to give evidence from the witness box where she swore the oath. The woman turned to Neville in the dock as she concluded the vow by stating: “And nothing but the truth.”

The incident took place in the early hours of Mar 23. Describing the moments before the alleged sexual assault, she said Neville told her to pull over.

“He said ‘Turn the engine off’ and I just did it. He took his seatbelt off. I didn’t take mine off.”

She then spoke of how he “pounded” on her.

“He forced his head on me,” she said. “It was a really forceful kiss. His tongue, like, forced down my throat. I had never been in a situation like that, especially with someone I knew.”

She said she initially thought she would be blamed for what had happened for not pushing him off. “I just froze,” she said, “My whole body froze. I could not speak. I just panicked.

“I said ‘Stop what you are doing’. I didn’t say ‘No’.

“I said ’You are a married man, are you not happy?’ and he said ’I’m very happy’.

“I said ’What are you doing?’ and he said ’I like the chase’.”

Neville denies sexual assault. The trial, estimated to last up to five days, continues tomorrow.