A MAN accused of raping a 78-year-old woman at her Gravesend home claims he cannot remember the attack.

Joe Street, then aged 19, turned up at the woman's house, bragging of having drunk 13 cans, and carrying two more cans of Stella Artois lager, Maidstone Crown Court heard today.

After going upstairs, he returned and exposed himself before raping her.

He then followed her to the toilet upstairs and searched the pockets of her cardigan for a mobile phone before leaving, the court heard.

But the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was told by Street's barrister Danny Moore that her alleged attacker "can't remember anything at all about the incident."

Mr Moore said: "I'm sorry I have to ask you these questions, it's the rules.

"Could it be that you consented to any of this?"

The woman, appearing via video link, replied: "No, no I didn't."

After her attacker left, the pensioner made a distraught 999 call, a recording of which was played in court.

Forensic tests of semen later revealed a DNA profile matching Street's and jurors were told the prospect of the match being made by chance was one in a billion.

After his arrest, Street was interviewed by police but said the suggestion he had raped the pensioner was "disgusting".

When charged with the offence he replied: "That's ridiculous."

Jurors were told Street would not be giving evidence in his defence and they would probably retire to consider their verdicts tomorrow.

Street, now aged 20, of no fixed address, denies rape.

The trial continues.