Rape accused tells court he was sleeping

A MAN accused of raping a teenager has claimed he was sleeping at the time of the alleged incident.

James Thomas, 22, is accused of attacking the 18-year-old girl at an address in Edinburgh in October last year.

The young woman, who cannot be identified, yesterday told the High Court in Edinburgh she had fallen asleep in the bedroom of a flat after a party. She said she woke up face down and to find Thomas raping her.

She said: "I was on my stomach and someone was having sex with me from behind. I was still half asleep." The woman said when she woke up she asked Thomas "what have you done?" and he said he was sorry and that he thought she was someone else.

Thomas, of Westburn, Middlefield, is also accused of assaulting the young woman by seizing hold of her face and attempting to lick it. He denies both charges.