Sales manager denies rape

A sales manager who denies rape told a court a work colleague had consented to sex after drinking during a three-hour lunch.

Married father-of-one Peter Simes, 39, of Colchester Road, Great Wigborough, Essex, said he took the 26-year-old out to a wine bar and they drank more than two bottles of wine.

He denied spiking the wine or sandwiches of the woman who claimed she had been powerless to stop him having sex with her.

"She was saying she could drink as much as liked and she would not get drunk," he told his trial at the Old Bailey on Monday.

Fell over

He said he had only realised she was drunk when she fell over coming out of the toilet.

"She said she was a bit tipsy," he recalled.

Mr Simes said he ordered her a coffee and took her back to their life assurance offices.

He said he started to get on with his work as she slumped on her desk.

Freezing cold

"I got her a coffee to sober her up. She kept saying she was freezing cold. I suggested she should go into the conference room.

"I thought she would be more comfortable and be able to sleep it off."

He said after 30 minutes he moved her to the computer room thinking she would be warmer. It was there that the couple had sex.

Mr Simes said the woman consented to sex throughout. He said he stopped when the woman reminded him he had a wife and seven-year-old daughter.

The trial continues.