A man who followed a woman home from a karaoke bar, broke into her house and then allegedly raped her has told a court it was simply an “accident”.

Accused Yap Pow Foo, 47, had targeted the woman as they celebrated Chinese New Year on 29th February with mutual friends, Singapore High Court heard.

Yap had tried to drive the woman – who was so drunk she could barely stand – home but had been thwarted by two of her pals who took her instead.

CCTV footage shows she had to be carried into the apartment.

After carrying her indoors, the pair locked her front door and slipped the key back inside, the court heard.

But Yap arrived at 3am and broke into the victim’s apartment and raped her while she was unconscious, say prosecutors.

The victim – a Chinese national – said she woke up and found Yap on top of her.

She reported him to the police at around 4.10am and Yap was arrested later that afternoon.

Traces of the defendant’s DNA were found on the victim’s denim shorts and body, said public prosecutor Chong Kee En.

However, Yap claimed he did not rape her but had “accidentally slipped” into her.

During the trial, the court heard how the defendant admitted to police that he undressed the victim and got into the bed with her.

He claimed that the woman’s eyes were open at the time and that he “accidentally slipped into her”.

He said the woman then told him “don’t want”.

Yap has previously served three years in prison with two strokes of the cane for a previous housebreaking conviction.

In Singapore, rape is punishable with a sentence of up to 20 years in prison or a fine as well as caning. Housebreaking carries a jail term of up to five years.

The trial continues.