Mobile phone records cast doubt on whether a man accused of raping a woman in Shropshire woods could have been at the scene at the time of the attack, a court heard.

Jamie Findlater, 19, from Doddington in Hollinswood, Telford, is facing three charges of rape and one count of robbery in relation to the alledged attack on August 11, 2009, near Randlay woods in Telford.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that Findlater’s phone was called at 5.15pm, during the time the prosecution claim the attack took place.

The victim has told police her attacker’s phone rang during the ordeal.

Forensic telephone expert Brian Fisher told jurors his tests found a good 3G signal at the crime scene.

But he said Findlater’s phone received the 5.15pm call via the older 2G network – normally only used when 3G is unavailable.

Network

Mr Fisher said: “The most likely explanation is that when the phone was answered at 5.15pm it wasn’t in 3G coverage.

“If the 3G network was very busy the network could have effectively shrunk a little, but we can’t prove that and it’s just something we have to take into account. In this case, that is a conspiracy theory which is best avoided.”

Denis Desmond, prosecuting, suggested Mr Fisher may have found the 3G signal to be considerably worse had he conducted his tests on the ground, where the attack took place, rather than at waist height.

But Tim Harrington, defending, said Mr Fisher’s tests had proved there was adequate 3G signal at the scene.

Mr Harrington told Mr Fisher: “For all you know, if you had put a phone on the floor it probably would have had 3G too.”

Jurors have heard the victim, who is in her mid-20s, was grabbed from behind on a path near the A442 in Randlay between 5pm and 5.20pm on August 11, 2009 and raped by a man in the bushes.

Findlater was part of an identity parade with eight others, but the victim did not identify him.

Findlater has denied all the charges.

The trial continues.

By Danny Carden