A West Yorkshire police sergeant accused of raping a woman and getting her pregnant has told a jury that the complainant wasn’t “completely out of it” following a night out.

Ben Lister, 36, who has been with the force since 2007, said there had been “flirting” between them and the woman did nothing to suggest she did not want to engage in sexual activity that night.

At the time of the alleged rape in 2016, Lister had just split from his then partner after she cheated on him, but he rejected a prosecution suggestion that the incident had been a way to get back at her.

Prosecutor Richard Woolfall suggested that Lister had “scarpered” when he sobered up the next morning and subsequent text messages in which the defendant told the woman they hadn’t slept together were “damage limitation”.

But Lister maintained that he only said they hadn’t had full sex because he didn’t want it to get back to his partner and jeopardise a resumption of their relationship.

The jury has heard that during the night out the officer and others had been drinking 75p shots in a nightclub, but Lister rejected the idea that he had been deliberately trying to get the complainant more intoxicated.

He described how they started kissing on a sofa back at a house and the sexual activity between them led to sexual intercourse on the floor.

“Was there anything said or done by her that suggested she did not want to engage in sexual activity?” asked his barrister Miss Laura Nash.

“No,” replied Lister.

He said he knew what consent was and added: “I wouldn’t just start having sex with someone.”

Lister said afterwards they both went to sleep in the living room and he left the house later that morning without waking the complainant.

During cross-examination, Lister accepted that later DNA tests proved he was the father of the complainant’s child.

He said he didn’t know why he hadn’t used a condom and wished he had.

“On that particular night you had sex with her knowing she was not agreeing to any of it,” suggested Mr Woolfall.

“That’s not correct,” said Lister.

“And now this is all about saving your reputation and your job isn’t it,” said Mr Woolfall.

“No that’s not correct,” said Lister.

“And avoiding punishment for what you did to this young (woman),” said Mr Woolfall.

“That’s not correct. That’s not correct,” said Lister.

“I did not take advantage of her.

“She was not drunk, she was not completely out of it. That was not the case.”

After Lister gave evidence to the jury over several hours today his barrister also read out a number of character references including some from fellow police officers who described the defendant as being highly thought of and respected.

One described Lister as “one of the best police officers” he had worked with, while another said he was steadfast and dependable.

The Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC is due to begin his summing up of the evidence in the case tomorrow morning (Fri) with the jury expected to begin their deliberations later in the day.