- dani x.
A WELL-KNOWN fashion identity was allegedly raped in the unisex toilets of Sydney's trendy nightspot The Ivy during an A-list party.
Police said the 34-year-old woman was attacked after a man followed her into one of the toilet cubicles at Justin Hemmes' flagship bar and locked the door about 2am on Friday.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was assaulted from 2.16am to 2.45am, a court was told yesterday.
The court also heard the pair did not know each other before the incident.
The woman said yesterday: "I don't want to comment ... it's not appropriate to talk right now.''
Christopher Scott Corben, 30, of Lilli Pilli, was arrested an hour later by officers from The Rocks and charged with the woman's sexual assault. When Corben appeared in Parramatta Local Court yesterday his solicitor, Mitchell Cavanagh, told the magistrate the sex was consensual and said both participants were completely naked.
"It would be difficult to detain another person while removing their clothes and one's own clothing,'' Mr Cavanagh said.
"The one and only issue in what will ultimately be a jury trial is the question of consent.''
The alleged assault on Friday morning happened near its famed rooftop pool bar.
The Ivy is the jewel in the crown of the Hemmes family hotel portfolio and is popular for A-list functions and parties.
The Ivy boasts that it is "a sophisticated urban playground'' which has "world-class design and service''.
In court yesterday, the police prosecutor, Senior Sergeant Rick Thompson, said the offence carried a maximum 20-year jail term.
The charge sheet stated Corben had sexual intercourse with the woman ``and knowing that she was not consenting to the sexual intercourse, in circumstances of aggravation, to wit, deprived the liberty of the victim for a period before the commission of the offence''.
Magistrate George Zdenkowski said the allegation was extremely serious and the victim was allegedly deprived of her liberty.
After police did not oppose bail, Mr Zdenkowski set it at $10,000 and imposed strict conditions on Corben's freedom.
He will have to report daily to police, is not allowed out between 9pm and 6am, cannot consume alcohol or enter a licensed premises, must surrender his passport and not have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim.
Corben's father, who was in court to support him yesterday, posted $10,000 cash as surety.
He will face court again on January 7.
Corben is part of the Eastern Suburbs social set and works in the finance sector.
