A MAN has gone on trial accused of raping a woman while she was unconscious after a house party.

Radiet Meles, aged 27, of Potter Street, Newport, attacked the woman in the city last summer, a jury at Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Heath Edwards told the jury that the complainant was “far too drunk” to consent to sex and said she had been awoken in the back of an ambulance by a police officer.

The defendant, who is following the case in the Tigrinya language through an interpreter, denies rape and attempted rape.

Mr Edwards said: “During Monday, August 13, 2018, the complainant went into Newport city centre drinking.”

The court heard how she and others made their way back to a house where a house party was held.

The prosecutor added: “The complainant herself has little clear recollection of the events or the chronology at this time as she was heavily intoxicated.

“The next memory she has of the events that night is of her being awoken in the back of an ambulance by a police officer and being told that the defendant had been having sex with her.

“That was not something that she had consented to – she was far too drunk for that.”

Mr Edwards told the court that the alleged attack was witnessed by people who had been present at the party and the police were called.

He said: “PC Neil Baker and others attended. It was immediately clear to them that the complainant was heavily intoxicated and had fallen into a heavy sleep. She was taken to hospital.

“Next day, one of the witnesses took her phone to the police station. There she showed PC Johnathon Sliczny a Facebook posting of the male she alleged to be responsible for the assault the night before.

“The Facebook posting bore the photograph of the defendant and the name Meles.

“At 10.30am on Wednesday, August 15, police officer Matthew Davies attended Potter Street in Newport. There he arrested the defendant.

“When he was interviewed, he accepted that he had been kissing the complainant and that they engaged in sexual activity, but no sexual intercourse or attempt at sexual intercourse.”

The trial, before Judge Christopher Vosper, QC, is expected to last five days.