RAPE TRIAL: ANTHONY Joyce has denied that he had seen the 74-year-old woman he is accused of raping as early as 1992.

Joyce worked at a south Wiltshire garage where the 74-year-old woman had her car serviced twice in 1992.

He said that he would sometimes deliver cars to their owners but that he had never delivered a car to Westbury because it was not his patch.

He said: "We had eight employees that came from that area and they used to collect the cars in the morning and take them home in the evening.

"We had our own areas for collection and delivery and we employed a collection and delivery driver."

Several employees that worked at the garage said that he could have delivered cars to the Westbury area.

The sales and service administrator said: "Tony was employed by the parts department. He would pick up deliveries and cars and take them back to customers."

The administrator told the court how Joyce could have delivered cars once a month depending on the frequency of the services.

The prosecution maintains that Joyce could have come into contact with the woman at this time.

Derwyn Hope, prosecuting, said: "We have heard that somebody from the garage came and took the car for work to be done on it and brought it back, even going to her home.

"There aren't any records that show that you did that but it was the type of work that from time to time you were asked to do."

David Bate QC, for the defence, said: "This man might have had contact with the ladies on a couple of occasions in the two years before the offence occurred, but take some time to consider how many people may fall into this category.

"How many milkmen, how many dustmen, how many builders, how many estate agents, how many lawyers?"