LONDON, UK  --  A gay UK radio host spiked a student's champagne and raped him after having invited the student back home to see his collection of paintings, a trial jury heard Monday.

Nigel Wrench, 47, who fronted the PM show on BBC's Radio 4, snorted cocaine with the student at a party in South London and offered him the chance of work experience on his radio show, The Times reports.

"He told me I could sit in on his show," the student told the court.

Wrench allegedly assaulted the 26-year-old after taking him back to his home and pouring them both a glass of champagne.

Constance Briscoe, for the prosecution, said: "To get his way with the victim, he drugged him and he raped him and he sexually assaulted him."

"He went into another room and returned with two glasses of what [the alleged victim] believed was champagne," Ms Briscoe said. "He took a gulp of champagne and he knew that not all was well . . . he rushed to the toilet to wash his mouth out.

"His eyes started to turn in his head and he began to get flashes of darkness that fluctuated with periods of blackness and flashes of lucidity. He was in and out of consciousness.

"His next recollection was that he was somehow on the defendant's bed."

Wrench is accused of rape, sexual assault and administering Temazepam with the intention of "stupefying or overpowering" his alleged victim to have sex. He denies all charges.

Last update: 02-05-2008 13:50