A MAN raped an elderly woman, leaving her "horrified and stunned", before telling police that she had imagined it, a court was told yesterday.

George Northam, 29, of New Bridge Street, Exeter, pleaded not guilty to rape when his trial began at Exeter Crown Court.

The prosecution claim the sex attack happened in South Devon last year, with Northam telling police that the woman must have imagined the crime and become confused.

The court heard he told police officers: "This is a job for a psychiatrist."

Prosecutor Paul Grumbar, opening his case, told the jury that Northam was polite and friendly to the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, but then committed the offence without any warning. "Suddenly he burst in," said the prosecutor. "She couldn't believe it."

He added: "She said his brain and his eyes were all funny. He wasn't focusing on her. She was naturally horrified and stunned by what happened." Mr Grumbar said Northam then walked away and later spoke to the woman when he saw her again, as if nothing had happened.

The prosecutor said she was reluctant to get police involved and first mentioned it to someone else during a conversation nearly a fortnight later.

In the intervening time she washed clothing and items from the alleged incident, before police were then alerted and the woman reported her allegations to officers and was video interviewed.

"There is no DNA," said Mr Grumbar. "This case revolves entirely around her account of what happened, an account she has repeated on a number of occasions."

"You are going to have to assess what she is like. The position is that sadly since these events, it is agreed you should know, this elderly lady has suffered acute depression. That is potentially serious in an elderly person and she is not fit to come to court to answer questions put to her."

He told the jury they would have to assess how much weight they attached to her evidence given to police in video interviews that would be played to the court. Mr Grumbar said that the woman was not seeking revenge and did not have any "ulterior motives".

When Northam was arrested he denied the offence. "He seemed somewhat detached from the allegation put to him and initially didn't seem to be taking it seriously," said the prosecutor.

"He suggested her imagination has started to go and she was getting carried away with things and she was not '100 per cent'." Mr Grumbar said the jury must watch the video interviews carefully. He added that the jury must be sure that Northam was guilty, if they convicted him. He added: "The prosecution have to prove it."

The trial continues before Recorder Sarah Munro QC. Northam, who denies the charge, is on bail.