A SOLDIER raped a woman after following her back home from a bar the pair had met in earlier, a court was told.

Stephen Shayo chatted to the alleged victim about the EU referendum as they sat on the grass outside Louis Bar in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Shayo then got in a taxi with the “heavily intoxicated” woman back to her home and followed her inside.

Prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, Paul Abrahams said the woman hoped Shayo would go and she got into her bed where she pretended to be asleep.

But after climbing in with her, the defendant began touching the complainant, despite her saying “Please, please no”, and proceeded to have sex with her, he said.

Mr Newcombe said the woman, who had unsuccessfully tried to push Shayo away, then called the police.

A police officer arrived a short time later and found the woman in a distressed state.

Shayo, 34, of Allendale Road, Sunderland, who has now left the Army, was arrested on suspicion of rape and said the sex had been consensual.

The defendant said in his account that the alleged victim had invited him back for a one-night stand, but after having had sex, she became angry when he said he was leaving.

The trial was told how the woman had been out drinking with friends in Richmond on the evening of June 25 last year and had also been to an Indian restaurant.

She accepted having a lot to drink, being twice over the drink drive limit, and also recalled downing shots in Louis Bar where the pair had met.

Mr Abrahams said: “She was being friendly with him, but she did not invite him into her house and did not want to have sex with him. The defendant took advantage of her.”

The prosecutor said before his arrest Shayo walked past a police presence at the alleged crime scene, ignoring officers.

He said: “The reason he did that we say is because he is guilty of rape and you can be sure that he is.”

Shayo, who was based at Catterick at the time of the alleged offence, denies a single count of rape and the trial continues.