A MAN accused of “raping” a sleeping woman inside a central Carlisle flat has gone on trial.
Joseph Mjemer, 36, denies two charges following an alleged incident on the morning of January 1. Both allege he raped the woman.
Opening the case to jurors at Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Adam Lodge said CCTV showed she and Mjemer meeting at a city centre bus stop in the early hours.
They walked – she “staggering” – to a flat, where the woman later woke to find Mjemer – whom she didn’t know – standing in her room fully clothed. She fell asleep again but, Mr Lodge alleged, woke a short time later and found him “naked” next to her.
“In a nutshell, the Crown say,” he said, “this defendant took advantage of (the woman)’s drunkenness, while she was in an alcohol-related sleep, and raped her.”
The woman pushed him off, he alleged. Mjemer left the premises and police were called.
Mjemer, of Elizabeth Street, Glasgow, was seen on CCTV heading to the city train station, where it emerged he was spoken to the day before and gave his name.
He was traced, said Mr Lodge, who added: “The defendant simply denies that any sexual activity, sexual intercourse, took place at all.”
The trial continues.
