A UNITED States sailor accused of raping a woman in Darwin allegedly admitted the crime and told the victim he attempted suicide in a private message on social media, prosecutors have said. Hugh Patrick Malone, 23, has denied an allegation that he “digitally” raped a woman — within hours of having sex with her friend — during a dodgy night out on Darwin’s party strip in September, 2013. His lawyer Tom Berkley told a the NT Supreme Court jury victim’s claim was a “case of regret, not rape”. He urged the jury to “pay close attention to the relationship the girls and sailors had built up”. Crown prosecutor Matthew Nathan said the accused messaged the woman on facebook after the crime. He apologised and said what he did was wrong. She replied: “You forced yourself on me.” Malone allegedly wrote to the woman: “I tried to rape you, I tried to kill myself.”

The court is closed to the public while the victim gives evidence. The jury heard she and two friends hit the clubs every night Malone’s ship USS Denver was in town to “meet sailors”. The victim reportedly hooked up with another sailor who will give evidence at the trial via video link. Malone and his “liberty buddy” had met the victim and her friends several times at city bars and organised to catch up at Monsoons nightclub, on Mitchell St, on September 4. Malone hired a room at Melaleuca Lodge where he had sex with one of the women. The pair returned to the club before Malone hit on the victim, Mr Nathan said. She said no. Malone allegedly invited the woman to come and “check out of the room” with him as he had to get back to the ship. “Her intention was to move on to spend the night with (her partner) who was staying at the Value Inn,” Mr Nathan said. He said the woman was confused when she saw Malone’s room was empty. He allegedly pulled her inside and shut the door, kissing her “roughly” despite her protests. Mr Nathan said Malone held down the woman on the bed and sexually assaulted her. The jury heard he stopped and apologised when she began to cry. The trial continues.