Alleged Carlisle Rapist Andrew Johnston, a former finalist of Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) who secured a record deal with Simon Cowell emotionally recounted in court that he did not rape two women.
On Wednesday, Andrew Johnston, 30, characterised his sexual encounters as “rapid, vigorous, perhaps somewhat passionate,” but informed the jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court that he was never forceful, consistently employed a condom, and that the intercourse was voluntary.
Andrew Johnston, who gained prominence as a choirboy by securing third place in the 2008 competition, is accused of raping and sexually assaulting one lady and raping another.
According to the prosecution, Andrew Johnston stated that he had been actively texting and dating extensively during the period surrounding the alleged charges, which occurred many years after his appearance on the talent program.
Andrew Johnston, from Carlisle, Cumbria, refutes two charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault.
Andrew Johnston told the jury he has “never sung a note” since the allegations were made against him and he has suffered from depression, his mental health is “terrible” and he has broken up with a girlfriend.
Recalling this period Johnston paused and put his head down before saying: “I was in a bad place. I was just in a really bad place.”
Asked about the impact on his life, he added: “I had lost everything – my career, my girlfriend over this period of time. I just got into a bad state really quickly.
“I have never sung a note since. I can’t bring myself to.”
Stopping to drop his head and in a shaky voice, he added: “I just can’t bring myself to.”
His alleged victims claim he slipped the condom off during sex and continued having intercourse, while one of them also also alleges he groped her bum and kissed her when she saw him at a club.
In relation to the first rape allegation, defence counsel Rupert Kent asked Johnston if he “at any time” reasonably believed that she was not consenting.
Johnston replied: “It was always consenting.”
He was also asked if he touched her, and Johnston answered “no never”.
Andrew Johnston, who is now a full-time roofer, told the court that these charges “are on my mind every single day”.
Mr Kent asked: “Are you guilty of these three charges?”
Andrew Johnston replied: “I am not at all.”
Earlier he had said: “I have waited to have my say on this. I have waited to give evidence but it is not easy.”
He described the situation as “awful”, adding: “It is not me. It is not the way I was brought up. It is not something I would do and it does not sound like me at all.”
Andrew Johnston was born in Dumfries, Scotland, but moved when he was about eight-months-old.
He said he has been suffering from depression since the allegations were made against him – which led to the break-up of a relationship.
“I was really suffering with depression. It was quite hard so we called quits on it,” he said.
“It started instantly when I heard about these allegations but it just got gradually worse as time went on and spiralled until I went on medication for it.”
His mother entered him on BGT where he impressed the judges including Cowell with his version of Pie Jesu and Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven.
He came third and went on to sign a contract with Cowell, released an album that went to number four in the UK charts and appeared in a UK Tour with other finalists.
The early stardom stopped as his voice changed prompting him to make a shift and sing in a lower range.
He told the court: “It went on for a couple of years until my voice started to change. It became a bit difficult to sing the songs I was singing in the show.”
In her police interview, the first alleged victim told detectives: “He removed the condom without my knowledge or consent and continued to have sex with me. I then said to him ‘stop’ and I said it between five or six times and he did not stop.”
Andrew Johnston held one hand on her throat and her arms were pinned with his other hand and it was only when she “slammed on his chest with both hands” that he stopped, she claimed.
In a series of answers as he gave evidence, Andrew Johnston described it as “energetic, fast” intercourse, “a condom was always used” and “I never put my hands anywhere near her neck”.
He added that he “never held her arms down”, she “never told me to stop at any point” and the woman “never slammed on my chest, she never said anything”.
He also said: “I never apologised to her because I had not done anything wrong.”
Andrew Johnston went on to deny trying to touch her bottom or kiss her when they were at a club, saying “no, I never”.
He also denied removing the condom when he had sex with the other woman or holding her around the throat.
His case is that both women have simply told the jury “a pack of lies”, the court heard during cross-examination.
Prosecutor Maryam Syed KC told Andrew Johnston he had taken a “calculated risk” and “deliberately raped” both women.
She said he used a “pattern” of similar features, including not using a condom or listening to them, and perhaps thought they would not be believed.
Johnston said: “I did not rape those two girls.”
Ms Syed told Andrew Johnston that it is his case that these two women had stood in the witness box “and told this jury a pack of lies”.
Andrew Johnston said “that’s correct”.
Ms Syed said: “It is simply your case that these girls are simply making this up?”
Andrew Johnston replied with the word “correct”.
The hearing continues.
UPDATE 09.05.25
A former star of Britain’s Got Talent weeps as he is acquitted of the rape of two women.
Andrew Johnston, 30, who participated as a vocalist on the television program in 2008, was charged with the rape and sexual assault of one lady and the rape of another.
On Thursday, May 8th, a jury consisting of nine women and three men acquitted Mr. Andrew Johnson, who now has a challenging endeavour to reconstruct his life.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.