A WOMAN who entered into a “friends with benefits” style relationship with a male associate was raped when she told him she could longer sleep with him because she had found a boyfriend, a court heard yesterday.

The 25-year-old mother of two had agreed to a no-strings-attached sexual relationship with Shahzaman Meah, 28, after they became good friends in 2011.

The couple, who were both single, would phone and text each other regularly and occasionally meet at her flat in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, for sex.

But when the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began seeing another man she told Mr Meah that while she wanted to remain friends they could no longer sleep together because she did not want to be unfaithful.

It is alleged that Mr Meah refused to accept that their relationship had changed and in May 2011 he arrived at her flat and raped her. Luton Crown Court heard that the pair’s relationship became physical after the woman sent Mr Meah a text message saying: “What I would like to find is a friend with benefits.”

Isabel Delamere, prosecuting, said Mr Meah replied: “You want a s--- buddy.”

The court was told that she responded: “Well yeah, I’m not going to beat around the bush, that’s exactly what I want.”

The defendant then replied: “Yeah, I’m up for that, when do you want to s---?”

The court heard that they had sex on a number of occasions, but in April 2011, the woman had begun a relationship with a new man.

Miss Delamere said that the woman sent Mr Meah a text message which read: “When you do see me next time, it will be strictly a friendship.” The woman made clear this meant she no longer wanted to sleep with him, the court heard.

The jury was told that the next month Mr Meah, who had allegedly been drinking, arrived at the woman’s flat and when her children went to bed he raped her. Mr Meah denies rape. The case continues.