A 41-year-old man accused of raping and sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, and taking photos of her, viewed her vulnerable state as “a unique opportunity to assault her”, the Royal Court was told at the opening of his trial yesterday.

Michael John O’Brien is said to have taken advantage of the woman when she was unconscious under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs.

He is on trial in the Royal Court this week, and denies one count of rape, one of sexual penetration without consent, two of sexual touching without consent, one of forcing the woman to perform a sex act, and one voyeurism charge.

Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, yesterday told the court that Mr O’Brien regarded the alleged victim’s vulnerable state as “a unique opportunity to assault her”.

He told the jury of six men and six women: “He thought he could use her as a sex toy for his own gratification.

“She was so out of it that she did not know what he was doing throughout.”

Advocate Maletroit said the woman had been drinking vodka, despite being on medication which is not supposed to be mixed with alcohol.

When she met up with Mr O’Brien, he brought more vodka and cannabis, the court heard.

The prosecution alleges that Mr O’Brien later took the woman into the bedroom and raped her after she became unresponsive.

Footage from a security camera was played in court, showing Mr O’Brien taking the woman’s hand and allegedly making her perform a sex act on him.

Photos of the alleged assault, which the prosecution said Mr O’Brien took on his mobile phone, were also shown in court.

Footage was then shown of Mr O’Brien leaving the property but returning shortly afterwards, when he is said to have led the woman to the sofa and urinated on her.

More pictures from his phone displayed in court show her with wet clothes.

Advocate Maletroit told jurors: “There is no other explanation for what you’ve just seen.”

He added that a swab taken from inside the woman’s body also showed the presence of Mr O’Brien’s DNA.

He said: “There can be no sensible suggestion that she was consenting.

“His behaviour that night was abhorrent. He knew what he was doing was both immoral and unlawful.”

The trial is expected to last three more days. Commissioner Sir William Bailhache is presiding.

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