Sheffield music teacher accused of rape had "explosive temper," court heard
A Sheffield music teacher accused of raping a woman as she slept had an “explosive temper,” a court heard.
Aaron Hook, aged 35, is alleged to have raped the woman whilst she was sleeping on more than one occasion, which he denies.
In her video interview with the police, which was played to the jury yesterday, the complainant described waking up “feeling groggy,” to find Mr Hook having sex with her.
Both the defendant and complainant agree they engaged in consensual sexual activity, prior to the time period covered by the allegations.
The jury of eight men and four women heard yesterday that after raping the complainant, Mr Hook is alleged to have sent her messages using the term “blanket consent” and to have also used the phrase out loud.
Opening the case yesterday, prosecutor Helen Chapman said: “He considered he had what he himself referred to as ‘blanket consent’ to behave how he liked with her body whilst she was asleep.”
Giving live evidence this morning (Tuesday, March 24, 2026), the complainant rejected suggestions from Mr Hook’s barrister, Dermot Hughes, that the term was used in jest.
She told Sheffield Crown Court: “It’s not a joke.”
Mr Hughes also suggested the complainant - who is entitled to lifelong anonymity - only took the phrase to have meaning, after going back through messages he had sent her, and thereafter decided to “use that to advance this” case.
“That’s not correct,” replied the complainant.
Mr Hughes also took the complainant through other messages she exchanged with Mr Hook, of Singleton Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, around the time of the alleged rapes.
“There’s nothing there suggesting any upset or any problem there between you, would you agree,” asked Mr Hughes.
The complainant explained that while there was nothing to convey her upset through the messages shown to the jury, she did express it to him verbally after one of the alleged rapes.
She also told the jury that her knowledge of Mr Hook’s “explosive temper” informed the way in which she communicated with him. The complainant agreed with Mr Hughes that Mr Hook’s “explosive temper” was never meted out with violence, however.
The jury were told yesterday that the complainant only came to view Mr Hook’s conduct as “rape” after speaking to a nurse during a visit to a clinic.
Referring to the stage at which the complainant visited the clinic, Mr Hughes suggested it was also around that time that she became aware that Mr Hook had entered into a romantic relationship with someone.
The complainant responded by saying she was aware Mr Hook was on dating apps.
Mr Hughes also suggested that the complainant had reacted negatively to being “cast aside.”
“No, I felt relieved,” she said.
The jury has been told Mr Hook works as a music teacher in Sheffield.
Mr Hook denies raping the complainant.
Please note: Mr Hook was cleared of all charges he faced, when the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on March 26, 2026.