A panel has started deliberations regarding a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was sleeping after an evening spent outside.

Sam Layne, who formerly lived on Albert Street in Banbury, is being tried at Oxford Crown Court.

The defendant, aged 31, has rejected the single charge of rape, which supposedly took place in Banbury in the early hours of February 15, 2023.

The court was earlier informed that the alleged attack occurred at Layne’s flat after an evening in Banbury.

The evidence shown to the panel revealed that on Valentine’s Day, the complainant had been playing darts at the Dog and Gun and pool at the Horse and Jockey.

The woman reached Layne’s flat in the early morning and fell asleep. When she woke up, she claimed that Layne had raped her.

On April 29, the lawyers presented their final arguments and Judge Hassan Khan gave the panel a summary of the evidence.

The panel retired to consider its verdict shortly after 3pm.

On April 28, the panel heard that Layne was arrested and questioned by officers on February 18, 2023.

He answered all questions by declining to comment. In a defence statement, Layne denied the allegation, stating he had not raped her and that the accusation was untrue because it never happened.

Oxford Crown Court

After the prosecution concluded its case, Layne gave evidence.

He told the panel that he manages several medical conditions including depression, ADHD, autism and Asperger’s.

When asked how these conditions affect him, he described experiencing shaking and fear of everything.

He was questioned about whether he attempted to engage physically or have sexual relations with the woman.

He explained that he did not. He stated that she was frantic and he jumped up like a gazelle. He asked her if she was okay and did not know what was happening. He said his whole body was shutting down and he did not know what was wrong. He reported being in shock himself and worried for her.

The panel had previously watched a video recording of the woman’s police interview carried out in March 2023.

She described being at a friend’s house before going to Sam’s. She stated that she left with Sam and arrived at his flat. They went to his room, turned on the television and put some music on. She said nothing out of the ordinary or anything weird occurred, they just sat there relaxing and chatting. She woke up and found that he was having intercourse with her, so she freaked out and he was freaking out. She said he had removed the bottom part of her clothing. She ran out to the taxi rank round the corner and went home.

The trial continues.