A NIGHTCLUB worker has denied raping a clubber in a town centre park while walking her home after a night out.

Daniel Hemming, of Easington Road, Banbury, faces one count of rape in the early hours of September 19, 2015.

A jury of six men and six women were sworn in as the 29-year old’s trial began at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Allan Mainds told jurors at the onset of the trial that the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been out at Banbury’s Moo Moo nightclub with friends.

At the end of the night, he told the court, Hemming, who works at the High Street club and had met the woman a number of times, offered to walk her home.

The pair were next spotted on CCTV holding hands and walking together through the town shortly after 3am.

Mr Mainds said that Hemming led the woman, who had drank a number of shots, cocktails and spirits, to a nearby park before pushing her up against a fence and raping her before she fled the scene.

Taking to the witness box the woman said: “It just happened so quickly, I was confused. I didn’t tell police I was raped, I told them what had happened and they told me I had been raped.

“You don’t believe that a friend can do that to you.”

Hemming denies the charge and claims that although there was sexual activity between the pair it was consensual and did not involve penetration.

The trial continues.