A HOTEL employee has alleged that a university student invited him back to her home and had sex with him after their encounter at a nightclub.

Damien Robertson, 21, claimed at York Crown Court that the young woman led him straight upstairs to her bedroom when they reached the house in a taxi.

They kissed and had sex, to which, he claimed, she consented. She has alleged that he raped her.

Hotel supervising manager Robertson, of Acomb Road, York, denies rape.

Giving evidence, he claimed he and the student met in the coat queue at the club late on October 29 and held hands.

He bought her a drink and they danced together. He alleged that she tickled his back and they kissed on the dance floor.

Later, she suggested that the two go back to her place.

Robertson alleged that he was surprised at the invitation, but went with her. When she took him upstairs he was nervous and scared.

He claimed that he asked the university student more than once if she was "OK" before they had full sex and she replied yes on each occasion.

After sex, they talked together in the bathroom while he had a drink of water and later went downstairs where she lay on the sofa and put her head on his chest.

He told the jury that he was on medication to alleviate anxiety symptoms.

He alleged that he was a shy man when sober, but was confident when he had had something to drink and was with his friends.

On October 29, he was with his friend, Gary Bell, and had six or seven drinks before getting to the nightclub and two more at The Gallery.

He denied the woman's claim that his demeanour had changed after they arrived at her house.

The jury was expected to consider its verdict today.

Updated: 11:22 Thursday, June 12, 2003