A BENDIGO man facing trial for raping a young mother said he had no recollection of the incident because he was drinking heavily and smoking cannabis.
Peter Pettersen, 27, of Bendigo, has been charged with raping a woman at her home in Bendigo in June 2010.
Pettersen said he had no memories of the event or the series of text messages he sent the victim in the following days.
He has pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape and one charge of assault.
The Bendigo County Court heard yesterday that Pettersen had thrown the victim onto the bed and slapped her in the face with significant force.
Crown prosecutor Peter Jones said Pettersen had violently held her down and raped her before she screamed at him to get out of the house.
Defence lawyer John Lavery said his client had no recollection whatsoever of the event but insisted any violence or use of force was not in his nature.