“HEARING what I put you through is physically shaming for me so I can’t comprehend how it is for you,” said a young man in a text after he was accused of rape.

Oliver Pearless, of Berkeley Road, Newbury, has been charged with one count of rape which allegedly occurred in the early hours of New Years Day in 2020.

The 23-year-old had been out clubbing in the since-closed Zinc Club, in Market Place, Newbury, with the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, before the alleged incident.

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After clubbing, the woman had gone back to Pearless’s friend's home after losing her own friend. She told police that she had got into bed with Pearless when he allegedly ‘got on top of her’ and raped her despite her rejections.

Pearless then sent the woman a message six days later apologising.

However, he is now on trial at Reading Crown Court where he has denied the allegation, claiming the pair had consensual sex.

The court heard on Wednesday (September 27) that the university student had been visiting her friend for New Years and the pair had gone clubbing with Pearless and his friend.

However, when it came time to go home the woman had lost her friend. She told the jury she was fearful about walking back to her friend’s home alone so went to Pearless’ friend’s home instead.

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In a statement the woman had written after the alleged incident, she wrote: “I got into bed [with Ollie]. Then it happened.

“He got on top of me. I told him no, I said stop but he wouldn’t, he wouldn’t stop. I said no and stop so many times but he wouldn’t stop.

“He wouldn’t stop and started taking off my clothes. He took his trousers off and put it in me and started having sex with me even though I said no.

“I was stuck, I couldn’t move, he was on top of me, I couldn’t stop it from happening.”

Prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson then read out a message the woman had received from Pearless six days later.

It read: “Hi [redacted], I just heard from [redacted] about New Years and I can’t comprehend my own shame rn [sic].

“I’m so sorry for what you went through, I was so drunk and my recollection of the night is minimal.

“Your rejections to me I thought were in reference to [redacted’s] parents being in the next room. I’m so sorry.

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“Hearing what I put you through is physically shaming me so I can’t comprehend how it is for you. I hope this can relieve you of some of your stress.”

The trial continues.