A WOMAN has denied instigating sex with a man she claims raped her while she was asleep.

The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence from behind a screen at the trial of Michael McDonagh, who denies one count of rape, at Basildon Crown Court.

McDonagh, 23, of Gifhorn Road, Canvey is accused of the serious sexual assault.

The court heard the complainant had been on a night out with friends. McDonagh had also been on a night out and both ended up back at the same house.

Previously the court heard the woman claimed she had gone to bed alone and woken up to find McDonagh in her bed.

During her police interview, which was played to the court on Monday, she told officers McDonagh had tried to kiss her which she had refused.

She said she went back to sleep but was woken when McDonagh started raping her.

During her cross-examination yesterday, Karl Voltz, defending, claimed despite initially refusing to kiss the defendant, the woman changed her mind after “flirting overtly” with him throughout the night.

He said: “You chose to flirt overtly with him in front of others that night. You chose to go to bed with him.”

The complainant denied this, in front of the jury of nine men and three women, adding: “I chose to go to bed alone”.

Mr Volz continued: “I’m suggesting later, you had changed your mind at that stage perhaps due to impulsiveness and in part due to alcohol and you instigated sexual activity. You had consensual sex with him.

“When he said ‘where should I ejaculate?’ it suddenly hit home and you didn’t want it anymore.”

Fighting back tears, the complainant denied this was the case and added: “I said from the beginning ‘no’ and ‘stop’ and continued to try and push him off me and when he did manage to get on top of me, I pushed him off with all my might and said ‘no means no’.”

Mr Volz claimed McDonagh had done nothing wrong, to which the complainant said: “He definitely did. Being asleep is not consent.”

The trial continues.