A WOMAN was raped after she invited a man into her home after a night out, a court was told.

Lee Rodgers, 21, pounced on his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at her flat after they had met during a night out in Middlesbrough, jurors were told.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the woman agreed to allow Rodgers to come back with her to her flat at the end of the evening.

He followed her to her bedroom as she answered a phone call and had initially respond to his kisses.

Brian Hirst, prosecuting, told the court: "That may have been something regrettable, in the light of what was going to come."

Mr Hirst said the woman, who knew Rodgers, was pushed down on the bed before being raped.

Mr Hirst said: "He had presumed sex was inevitable and when he realised he was not going to have consensual sex, he forced himself upon her, perhaps not realising what the consequences of that would be."

Rodgers then went to get a taxi and the woman went to a friend's house, where the police were called.

She was taken to Middlesbrough police station and examined but no injuries consistent with rape were found.

Samples of bodily fluid sent away for analysis also failed to come up with any evidence to support her claim.

Rodgers was arrested a day after the alleged attack in the early hours of November 17, last year, and initially denied having sex with the woman, who had a boyfriend at the time.

He later admitted having sex with her but said she had consented to what happened.

Rodgers, of Stratford Crescent, Middlesbrough, denies rape and the trial continues.