A WOMAN who claims she was raped in her sleep after a night out in Colchester was “nine and a half out of ten drunk”, a court heard.

The complainant’s friends say they heard her scream “get out, get off” as she woke up next to Shaun Western, 23, who she claims was raping her.

The allegation relates to an incident alleged to have taken place after the duo spent a night out together in Walkabout in Head Street, Colchester, in 2018.

Christopher Kerr, prosecuting, told a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court that the woman remembers waking up to Western having sex with her.

Gazette: Popular bar - the complainant spent the night in Walkabout in Head Street, Colchester, before she says she was rapedPopular bar - the complainant spent the night in Walkabout in Head Street, Colchester, before she says she was raped (Image: Web)

Western, who denies rape, claims the sex was consensual and said he stopped when she began falling asleep.

One of the complainant's friends who was also on the night out gave evidence during the second day of the trial.

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She claimed the complainant was “nine and a half out of ten drunk”, adding: “She couldn’t walk in a straight line. She was falling over, she was very intoxicated.

“She was having drinks. There was some Jagerbombs taken by her, some vodka lemonades.”

Gazette: Trial - Chelmsford Crown CourtTrial - Chelmsford Crown Court (Image: ANDRA MACIUCA)

The friend told the jury the party left Walkabout when it closed at 2am and headed back to a property in Colchester.

The complainant was said to be “swaying” and “couldn’t walk in a straight line” during the short walk back.

Once back at the house, and with the alleged victim continuing to “slur”, she was put to bed with a sick bowl beside her.

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Western is said to have disappeared from the group sat in the living room for a “long period of time” before being seen asleep next to the complainant in bed.

A short while later she could be heard “screaming get out, get off” repeatedly.

The friend continued: “We all then sprinted to see what had happened and Shaun had barged past us and out the front door. He grabbed his shoes and sprinted out the door.”

She added the complainant was “hysterically crying and “scratching at her skin as if to pull it off”.

Western, of Edward Paxman Gardens, Colchester, denies rape.

  • The trial continues.

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