A WOMAN who claims she was raped by a professional footballer told the police she recalls seeing a “shadow” behind her.

Callum Harriott, who played for Colchester United between 2019 and May 2021, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court yesterday accused of rape.

Harriott, 28, denies the allegation, which is said to have taken place while the complainant was asleep at his former home in Rotary Way, Colchester, in late November 2019.

In a police interview played to the court on the opening day of the trial, the complainant, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity, said she remembers the incident feeling “blurry”.

“I remember seeing a shadow behind me, I turned around and I think he was already [having sex with] me,” the young woman told the police. “I was coming back from being passed out asleep.

“I couldn’t feel anything but I could just see him behind me. I could feel it was happening but I was gone, passed out.

“I feel the more he was doing it, I was waking up. I don’t think I knew for ages.”

The trial, which is expected to last five days, continues.