A MAN who denies rape, who sent a message saying he had, told a court he sent it because it was what the alleged victim had wanted to hear.

Bryan Sheridan, of Conduit Hill, Evesham, denies four counts; two rapes, assault by penetration when the victim had not consented and attempting to assault by penetration when the victim did not consent.

The jury had earlier heard the alleged victim attended a friend's party in Malvern, on Boxing Day, 2018, where she had drunk heavily before returning to her home with Sheridan and having another drink, then going to sleep.

The alleged victim alleges she was then raped by Sheridan and had not given consent to the sexual activity as she had not been awake.

Taking the stand on the third day of the trial at Worcester Crown Court, Sheridan said everything sexual that took place between the pair that night had been consensual, and instead of going to sleep she was awake throughout.

Taking questions from Michael Anning, defending, the 34-year-old said the pair had rekindled their relationship in the latter half of 2018, after breakups.

Sheridan said they had gone to the party, and he later picked up the alleged victim who he agreed was drunk, but said she was "fine" and "able to walk and communicate".

Sheridan said after a conversation about having a threesome with a friend, the pair then moved to sex.

Mr Anning asked: "How did she seem?"

"Perfectly happy," Sheridan replied.

"What was the sex?" Mr Anning asked.

"Normal sex," the defendant answered.

"How did you know she was consenting?"

"She pulled me on top of her," he replied.

He said later in conversations - on the phone, and in messages - the alleged victim had then said to him that she thought he had "done something to her" and raped her while she was asleep.

"Who initiated (the sex)?" Mr Anning then asked.

"She did," the defendant replied.

"Was she awake?"

"Yes," Sheridan answered.

He was then asked about the Whatsapp message in which Sheridan wrote to the alleged victim: "OK I raped you."

Sheridan said that in the run-up to sending it, he had been thinking: "She basically said if I didn't say it she was going to ring the police and I'd be arrested."

"Why did you send her that message?" Mr Anning said.

"This was what she wanted to hear," he replied.

In cross-examination Caroline Goodwin QC, prosecuting, challenged him again on the message.

She asked if at the time of sending it he believed the relationship was over, Sheridan confirming this was what he thought.

Miss Goodwin said: "Why did you then need to say 'OK I raped you'?"

"Because that's what she wanted to hear," Sheridan answered.

"Why did you need to admit something you hadn't done?" the prosecutor asked.

"She said she wanted me to say it so she could move on," he replied.

"Did she actually finally push you to the point where you were admitting what you had done?"

After taking a pause to drink, and asking for the question to be repeated, he answered "No".

"Did you rape her Mr Sheridan?"

"No," Sheridan answered.

The jury heard the closing speeches before the judge summing of the case.

The jury are expected to retire to deliberate their verdict on Thursday. The trial continues.