Rape accused said he was sleepwalking at the time

The trial of a man who told gardaí he was sleepwalking at the time he allegedly raped a friend has heard the woman did not initially report it as she was hoping he would get help.

She said she was nervous about taking a case but later made a statement as she feared he would do it to someone else. The Central Criminal Court also heard the man’s mother said he had been looking up “sleep sex” online in the days after the alleged offence.

The man, aged 29, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman on September 28, 2008.

In cross-examination, the complainant agreed with Hugh Hartnett, defending, that she and the accused had come to Dublin to attend an event and were sharing a bed in a friend’s flat after a night out.

She said she removed her coat and shoes before getting into bed and going to sleep. She said she woke up an hour and a half later to find the accused on top of her with his penis inside her.

The court heard she left the flat and rang her sister who came to meet her. She agreed that a few days later she met the accused and they had a long conversation during which they both cried.

She said she told him he raped her and he said “yeah I know.” He later told her he thought he may have been sleepwalking. She agreed he went to a rape crisis centre.

The trial continues.