A LEISURE centre worker yesterday told a jury how his world was turned upside down when he was arrested and questioned about a rape at a house party.

Lee Tobin said he believed the woman wanted to have sex with him and was making “pleasurable” sounds when he touched her as they lay in the same bed.

But he told the jury he became worried when she later abruptly left the house, and was “traumatised” when police arrested him for rape.

The court heard that Mr Tobin arrived at the party, on the outskirts of Durham City, after the alleged victim, who cannot be named to protect her identity, had gone to bed drunk.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Mr Tobin, a gym instructor and part-time DJ, talked to other guests, had a drink and asked where he could spend the night.

Mr Tobin, 23, said he was directed to the spare room and told he could share the spare bed, and asked the occupant when he climbed in if that was okay.

He told the jury that the woman replied “yeah”, but in her evidence, she insisted she was asleep, did not answer and woke to find him having sex with her.

In an interview with police, the woman said she thought she was dreaming, but became frightened when it dawned on her what had happened.

She said she fled her friend’s house and drove off.

She told the jury that she tried calling four friends, but received no answer, before she rang Newcastle United’s £10m striker Obafemi Martins, who she had met months earlier.

Mr Tobin was arrested at his home in Brandon, County Durham, hours later.

He told the jury: “I was traumatised.

I was a nervous wreck. It has had a big impact on my life over the last five months.”

The jury heard testimonials from community leaders and friends, who said Mr Tobin was kind, thoughtful, hardworking, dedicated, polite and honest.

Mr Tobin, of Station Avenue, Brandon, denies raping the woman on December 28, last year.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today.