A FORMER University of York student told a York jury that her ex-boyfriend raped her after dinner and champagne.

Martin Peters, 35, of Goodramgate, York, denies raping her.

The woman told York Crown Court that Peters, whom she had known for eight years and with whom she had had a "fling" for two months, met her in the Blue Bell pub, in Fossgate, York, one night earlier this year.

They drank bitter, then, she alleged, Peters took her for a meal at the nearby Blue Bicycle, as he had vouchers for free food, and they shared a bottle of red wine.

The woman said they moved on to Wilde's Wine Bar and the White Swan pub, where they drank lager.

At the end of the night, the two of them went to Peters' flat, to share a bottle of champagne.

Tina Dempster, prosecuting, told the court the woman and Peters sat on a sofa to talk and drink the champagne.

The woman fell asleep momentarily and then got up to leave.

She said: "I got up to leave and a rush of incredible exhaustion came over me. I couldn't move my legs. It's a feeling I've never encountered before."

She then went to sleep on a different sofa, and alleged she awoke to find Peters had removed some of her clothes and was raping her. She kicked him off her, got dressed and cycled home.

The woman, who lives in York, said she had maintained a friendship with Peters since their relationship which began when they first met.

She said she had occasionally bumped into him in York venues, including Fibbers and Ziggys.

She said: "I thought he was a very intelligent, highly entertaining man. I didn't have any suspicion about what was going to happen at any stage."

She received a text message from Peters the morning after the alleged rape, stating: "Sorry I was badly behaved last night."

Nick Barker, cross-examining for Peters, asked the woman about previous times she had met the defendant in York, and about an incident last summer where he alleged they nearly spent the night together.

The woman admitted occasionally "snogging" Peters, for "a bit of fun" while they were out together.

The trial continues.

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, July 31, 2003