A MAN allegedly raped an elderly South Devon woman and then told police she had imagined it, Exeter Crown Court has heard.

George Northam (right), 29, of New Bridge Street, Exeter, pleaded not guilty to rape when his trial began yesterday.

The prosecution claim the sex attack happened in South Devon last year, leaving the woman 'horrified and stunned'.

Northam told police the woman must have imagined the crime and become confused.

He told officers: "This is a job for a psychiatrist."

Prosecutor Paul Grumbar told the jury Northam started out being polite and friendly to the woman, 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 the woman was reluctant to get police involved and mentioned it to someone else during conversation almost a fortnight later.

In the meantime, the delay meant she washed clothing and items from the alleged incident.

"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."

Police were then alerted and the woman reported her allegations to officers and was video interviewed.

"You are going to have to assess what she is like," said Mr Grumbar. "The position is that sadly, since these events, it is agreed you should know this elderly lady 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 the woman was not seeking revenge and did not have any 'ulterior motives'.

The defendant was arrested and 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.

"There is a natural tendency when you see something on a screen to think there's something unreal about it," he said. "There's nothing unreal about this."

He added the jury must be sure that Northam was guilty, if they convicted him.

He added: "The prosecution bring the case and they have to prove it."

The trial continues before Recorder Sarah Munro QC. Northam, represented by Nicolas Gerasimidis, is on bail.