A STUDENT was allegedly raped after two men went back to her accommodation, following a night out, to smoke cannabis.

A jury has heard a claim that one of them had sex with her, encouraged by his friend.

The young woman, who had taken alcohol, Prozac and cannabis, had become sick and was physically unable to resist, say the Crown.

Two men have gone on trial accused of raping her on January 20 of this year. Stephen Finnigan, 29, of Roxborough Walk, Liverpool 25 and Colin North, also 29, of New Street, Brookhouse, Lancaster, both deny the charge.

At the start of their trial, Mr. Neville Biddle, prosecuting, said the woman drank some wine and smoked cannabis before going out on the night of January 29. She went to Liquid Nightclub and there met the two defendants. She had a brief word with them, but did not spend the rest of the evening with them.

The woman consumed drink and as she was leaving she met up with the two defendants again. They had some conversation, as a result of which it was agreed between all of them that they would go back to her house. There they would have a smoke of cannabis when they got to her room.

They arrived by taxi and at least two or three of her house mates were on the premises at the time. She gave the defendants a can of drink each and had one herself, though she did not consume much of it.

Mr. Biddle said she got a bong out and later had a couple of puffs on it. She became very dizzy and decided to lie down.

She wasn't able to move around properly and was sick. The prosecution allege that she was being sick when Finnigan began effectively to make sexual advances towards her.

Mr Biddle said " She knew what was going on but, because of the amount she had drunk and because of the cannabis, was physically unable to do anything about it. But she didn't want to have intercourse with either of the two defendants."

The Crown claim that Finnigan started to have sex with her and North began fondling her. The woman is said to have shouted words like "get off".

When the defendants went, they left her half dressed on the bed.

When later questioned by the police, North said he had not done anything himself, while Finnigan said he did have intercourse, but he believed she had consented to it.

The trial continues