Woman raped in Lowestoft flat court told

A WOMAN who went to lie down in a bedroom at a flat in Lowestoft because she felt tired and sick woke up to find she was being sexually assaulted, it has been alleged.

A WOMAN who went to lie down in a bedroom at a flat in Lowestoft because she felt tired and sick woke up to find she was being sexually assaulted, it has been alleged.

The woman had gone to the flat of Mehedi Ali, in Pier Terrace, Lowestoft with a friend and had spent the evening chatting and drinking with Ali and another man, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

The woman's friend and the other man at the flat had 'paired off' and Ali had allegedly started to 'make a play' for the alleged rape victim.

He had allegedly put his arm round her but she had got up and moved away, said Matthew Gowen, prosecuting.

During the evening the woman had felt sick and tired and had been told she could use a bedroom at the flat.

Some time later she had woken up to find Ali lying next to her on the bed trying to pull off her shorts.

Ali had left the room but had allegedly returned and the woman awoke to find him trying to touch her indecently.

Ali had allegedly then pulled down the woman's shorts and had sexual intercourse with her against her will, said Mr Gowen.

The woman had screamed for help and had left the flat with her friend and contacted the police.

Mr Gowen said that when police officers went to the flat they found Ali in bed fully clothed and pretending to be asleep.

Ali, 26, of Pier Terrace, Lowestoft, has denied raping the woman in February last year.

After his arrest he claimed the woman had wanted to have sex with him and had become upset after he rejected her and had 'started to scream the house down.'

Mr Gowen told the court that the woman's DNA was found on an intimate swab taken from Ali. He said this provided very strong scientific support that Ali had had sexual intercourse with the woman.

The trial continues today.