A diver accused of rape was warned off going into a drunken female crew's cabin by a member of his group, a court heard today.

Graham Owen said he feared Robert Wilson, of Cottingley, wanted to have sex with the alleged victim, so he stood on the hatch opening of her cabin to prevent him from entering.

Mr Owen, who is registered blind, told the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday he felt "more than a little bit nervous" about Wilson going into the 23-year-old's quarters on the Orkney dive boat.

But Wilson was "very adamant, very forceful" that he should go to the student's quarters and ask her if she wanted a cup of tea, the court heard.

Mr Owen, 45, said Wilson lifted the hatch and went down to her cabin. He said he heard Wilson speak to the woman several times before she gave an incoherent response.

Mr Owen told the court he thought she was too drunk to know what was going on around her. They had been out drinking with the woman earlier.

Wilson eventually came back up the ladder to the galley when the older man refused to pass cups of tea down to him and shouted at him to come out, he said.

As soon as Wilson was clear of the hatch, Mr Owen said he closed it and stood on it to stop him going back down. They then had a heated argument.

"I felt that Rob intended to go back down again and I felt it was an inappropriate thing to do," said Mr Owen. I didn't think a cup of tea was on his mind. I thought that Rob wanted to have sex with (the woman)."

He added: "I said to him if you do something to somebody that they don't want you to do it's rape."

Mr Owen told the court he finally left Wilson after he promised he would only take a cup of tea to the woman.

The next morning, she seemed embarrassed and upset when she came up to the galley and said she would be better if there was not someone in her bed, Mr Owen said.

Wilson denies repeatedly raping the woman while she was under the influence of alcohol and unable to resist.

The trial continues.