Supermarket worker accused of rape tells of shock at rejection

Morrisons employee Adam Brown, 23, told Bradford Crown Court today the woman had given a him a "tight cuddle" before he kissed her at a friend's house.

The prosecution has alleged that the woman was drunk after sharing three bottles of wine with a friend and consuming a couple Applesourz shots.

The complainant had also been sick that night, but Brown, of Buttershaw Road, Bradford, said she responded to the kissing by arching her back and moving her legs.

"Did you think she was enjoying it?" asked his barrister James Lake.

"I did," replied Brown, who was employed as a supervisor at the Elland branch of the Bradford-based supermarket chain.

But Brown said when he tried to have sex with the complainant she turned round and asked him what he was doing.

Brown described being "really shocked" by what happened and said he felt confused by what the complainant had said.

"Do you think you might have misread any signals you were given?" asked Mr Lake.

"Definitely not," replied Brown.

The defendant said they both went to sleep and the next morning the atmosphere between them was fine.

Brown said he felt "rejected" over what happened, but said he did not think he had taken advantage of the complainant.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Nicholas Askins, Brown accepted that he had previously suggested to the woman that they could have a "friends with benefits" relationship, but she had laughed it off.

Mr Askins suggested that the woman had repeatedly told Brown she simply wanted to go to sleep that night, but the defendant insisted that she had not said that.

"Didn't you say you wanted to keep her awake and have some fun?" asked Mr Askins.

"I didn't," replied Brown.

"Isn't the truth Mr Brown that you knew she didn't want to have intercourse with you but you thought she was too drunk to stop you?" said Mr Askins.

"No," replied Brown.

Brown has pleaded not guilty to the rape charge.

The trial continues.