Drug claim in sex case trial
A "predatory" homosexual plied young men with drink, then drugged them for sexual activity at his Rugeley home, it was alleged at Stafford Crown Court.
Robert Osbourne was also said to have openly advertised on the internet for "slaves" to do domestic chores and engage in sex. Mr Andrew Lockhart, prosecuting, warned the jury it would hear of "shocking" sexual practices.
He said jurors would have to put aside any feelings of revulsion or prejudice.
Their role was to evaluate the facts as they heard them, he said.
Osbourne, aged 42, of Hill Street, Rugeley, denies four charges of administering a noxious substance with intent to engage in sexual activity, four of rape of a stupefied male, two of attempted rape and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
Mr Lockhart said Osbourne acted in a predatory way, openly advertising on gay websites for slaves.
In August 2005, Stuart Davies responded and went to work for Osbourne. "He would call Osbourne 'Sir' at all times, do household chores," said Mr Lockhart.
He added that Davies would play a passive role in sex and was allowed to engage in sexual activity with other men who visited the house.
Mr Lockhart said Davies became concerned at the increasing level of violence being used and in September contacted the police.
He told officers that Osbourne would regularly invite young men to do work for him at the house.
Osbourne would then ply them with alcohol and give them stupefying drugs which rendered them unconscious and he and his friends would perform sex acts.
"None of them knew what had happened to them because they were entirely stupefied," said Mr Lockhart. "They simply didn't know."
Mr Lockhart said Davies had pleaded guilty to rape.
He added that Osbourne had denied taking any part in unlawful sexual activity and told police any sex he had was with consent.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
