A WOMAN reported that she had been raped by a fellow student after seeing him on the BBC TV quiz show University Challenge, a court heard.

The 22-year-old went to police after seeing Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere on the television programme a year after the alleged attack in her University of York halls of residence, Bradford Crown Court heard.

She told an officer that Joly de Lotbiniere had sex with her in her room as she tried to push him off and later sent her text messages saying he did “a very stupid thing” and was sorry.

In a video interview played to the court, the woman told police she was prompted to report the alleged attack after the defendant appeared on television in 2015.

She said: “Basically, he was on University Challenge and it was all over social media and certain tweets.”

The woman said she saw a tweet by Pointless host Richard Osman about Joly de Lotbiniere’s name and “just got angry and upset”.

Joly de Lotbiniere, now 22, of Kensal Rise, London, denies rape and sexual assault.

The jury of seven women and five men heard that Joly de Lotbiniere and the woman had been out drinking as part of a group in June 2014 and returned to the halls of residence in the early hours of the morning.

Gerald Hendron, prosecuting, told the court the defendant tried to kiss the woman and said “we should have sex”, telling her it would help her get over her ex-boyfriend.

The woman told police he also said he had been fantasising about her and that he wanted her to teach him “how to do it properly”, but that she told him she did not want to, the jury heard.

Mr Hendron said Joly de Lotbiniere followed the woman into her room and kissed her before removing her top and bra, picking her up and putting her on the bed, where he removed her trousers and assaulted her.

The prosecutor said: “All the while, (the woman) was telling him to stop. She tried to push him off her.”

The court heard Joly de Lotbiniere then raped the woman while she continued to try to push him off.

Mr Hendron told the jury how, after the alleged attack, the defendant told the woman “pretend this never happened” and “tell no-one about this” before leaving the room.

The barrister said the woman texted Joly de Lotbiniere two days later and said: “I thought I’d let you know I wasn’t overly comfortable with what happened on Thursday night.”

The court heard that the defendant replied: “Neither am I.

“I was a disgrace, I did a very stupid thing and I am very sorry for what I did.

“I just hope you can forgive me at some point. I’ll try not to act like a bloody 14-year-old again and start acting my age. Sorry.”

Mr Hendron said: “The prosecution say the defendant knew he had raped the complainant against her will and was trying to excuse it on his immaturity.”

The court heard that Joly de Lotbiniere texted the woman again in October 2014, saying: “I wanted you to know I’m very sorry for what I did and that there’s no enmity between us. And that we can move on as mutual friends.”

After his arrest, the jury heard he told police his apologies related to him being unable to get an proper erection during the sexual encounter, which he said was consensual.

The trial continues.