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University student accuses friend of rape after 'waking up to find herself on top of him in bed', court hears

Joshua Lines arriving at Manchester Crown Court - Cavendish Press
Joshua Lines arriving at Manchester Crown Court - Cavendish Press

A university student was raped by a friend after she woke up at her halls of residence after an evening drinking beer and prosecco to find herself on top of him, a court heard.

The woman had invited Joshua Lines, 23, to stay in her room after they attended a student party together and fell asleep together while watching the Disney film Lady and the Tramp, jurors were told.

But she alleged that she was woken up several hours later by the sound of a laptop falling off her bed, to find herself on top of Lines while he assaulted her. The woman said she fled to her ensuite bathroom and locked herself inside for several hours.

In a statement to police, the woman - who attended Manchester University - said: "I think my laptop fell on the floor and that is what woke me up, I was on the top of him and he was having sex with me. I woke up and I was in shock and I started crying, initially he froze. Josh came to the door and tried speaking to me and when I left the bathroom he had gone."

I remember everything that happened and I know I was not drunk

alleged victim of Joshua Lines

Manchester Crown Court was told Lines and the woman had been friends, but that she did not share his romantic feelings. The incident occurred in November 2014 when former student Lines, from Wigan, visited the woman and they attended a house party together.

In her videoed statement, the woman - who denied being drunk - said: "I met Josh that evening about 9pm and went and had a few drinks and went to the house party about 11pm. We stayed for about an hour-and-a-half and then came home to my flat and watched a film and I fell asleep whilst the film was still on.

"Before I met Josh I had a large bottle of beer and then had a pint of beer when I met him. We then went to another bar and Josh bought us a bottle of prosecco which we shared half and half. I was a little bit drunk but ok, he told me he had drunk a bottle of wine before leaving.

"We then went to a Morrisons supermarket and bought eight bottles of beer each and took these to the party. At the party I had one of the bottles but didn't drink anymore. I remember everything that happened and I know I was not drunk.

"When we got back we decided to watch a film. I went to the bathroom and got changed and Josh was already in the bed. I put the film on and I remember before falling asleep turned me to face him and cuddled me but that was nothing unusual. I assume we fell asleep like that.

"But I woke up on top of him and he was having sex with me and I said: 'I know what you have just done,' and I went into the bath room and locked the door. Josh came to the door and said stuff to me but I couldn't hear, he then left the flat.

"He sent me a Facebook message saying: 'What's happened" to which I replied: 'I don't want anything to do with you, go back to the house party, I'm sure someone will let you crash there.'

The case is being heard at Manchester Crown Court - Credit: Maurice Savage / Alamy 
The case is being heard at Manchester Crown Court Credit: Maurice Savage / Alamy

Prosecuting, Justin Hayhoe said: "The complainant and the defendant had known each other for some time but their relationship was platonic.

"She knew very early on that he was physically attracted to her but she didn't share that and that was communicated to him and was respected. It appeared that the defendant had accepted that they would be no more than friends.

"She trusted him, and at that time had no reason not to. She had gone to university in Manchester and she invited him to go to a party with her. He agreed and they met up that evening.

"They returned home to her university residence and she had no feeling there would be anything towards happening. There was no problem letting her friend stay and she thought she would never have her hospitality abused in the manner that it was.

Brian McKenna, defending, said: "You had both consumed more alcohol than you say. You and Joshua after a night out ended up in bed together and before you went to sleep there was an element of cuddling. In drink did things happen which you decided you didn't want and then shouted rape?"

Lines denies rape. The hearing continues.