The 32-year-old defendant in a sexual assault case yesterday admitted in the Supreme Court that he lied to Police.

On Monday the 19-year-old complainant testified that the defendant offered her a lift home on the evening of April 26 last year. She claims that he later sexually assaulted her.

The Warwick man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Police two days after the alleged incident that he did not know the complainant.

But he admitted earlier this week before a twelve-person jury that he knew the woman.

He testified that the complainant had flagged him down while driving past a Middle Road, Warwick bus stop. He said he picked her up and took her to Belmont with the intention of smoking marijuana.

But the defendant yesterday, under cross examination, told the court that he lied to Police to protect his pregnant wife.

"I wanted my wife to be the first to know,'' he said. "I wanted to be the one to explain it to her.

"If you're married, you can't have a woman friend in Bermuda.'' And he accused Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus of "making me look like a big liar over a little incident''.

Ms Bacchus also pointed out that the defendant did not want to participate in a Police identification parade.

But the defendant said he told Police the truth when he denied allegations that he had made the complainant touch his genitals or grabbed her bottom.

In her closing arguments, defence counsel Kim Wilson told the jury that the complainant had made up her testimony.

"She was vindictive enough to concoct evidence,'' said Ms Wilson.

"You saw her in court. She was cocky, hostile and arrogant.'' "She is extremely manipulative. The truth means nothing to her, but her reputation in the (Jones) Village means everything.'' Ms Wilson noted that she showed no emotion when describing the alleged sexual abuse.

She said her behaviour after the incident was inconsistent with her claims that she was sexually assaulted.

"She got on another stranger's cycle to go home that evening,'' said Ms Wilson.

And she called the complainant's confrontation of the defendant with her cousin a "visit by vigilantes''.

Embarrassed by the charges against him, the defendant told the court: "I would rather be in here for killing someone than sexual assault.

"That is a dirty, low-down crime.'' Puisne Judge Philip Storr begins his summary of evidence and the case is expected to go to the jury today.