By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:33, Thursday, 12 July 2012

A young woman who got drunk during a night out in Carlisle woke up at home to find that the man who came home with her was having sex with her, a jury heard.

At Carlisle Crown Court, 23-year-old William Cannon, of Welsh Road, Harraby, has denied a charge of raping the woman last December.

Steve McNally, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury the woman had been out drinking with family and friends.

By 3am, when she left a city centre nightspot, she put herself as being “eight out of ten” on a scale of drunkenness.

“To use her own words,” said Mr McNally, “she wasn’t a complete mess.”

The woman had spoken to the defendant inside the club and once outside they agreed to go to the home of one of his friends.

While there, they decided they needed more alcohol and so she went out to get it, taking it back to her house.

Having changed into her pyjamas, she suddenly felt ill and fell asleep on the sofa.

The woman later woke up in her bedroom, and found the defendant was on top of her.

He was having sex with her, Mr McNally told the jury. “She was clear she was trying to push him away,” said Mr McNally.

A short time later, her house-mate found her curled up on the bed, and trembling.

“She burst into tears, and said repeatedly: It’s my fault, It’s my fault,” said the prosecutor.

Cannon said they had not had sexual intercourse. They had cuddled, he said, he then woke up and left.

The barrister added: “She was so drunk she could not have consented to sex, and the Crown say that Mr Cannon took advantage of that in order to have sex.”

The trial continues.

First published at 11:29, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk