A BBC Radio 4 presenter drugged and raped a man he met at a New Year’s Eve party after inviting him back to see his collection of paintings, a court was told yesterday.

Nigel Wrench, 47, snorted cocaine with the student at a party in South London and offered him the chance of work experience on his radio show, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Wrench, a presenter on the PM programme, is alleged to have attacked the 26-year-old man after taking him back to his home and pouring them both a glass of champagne.

The guest took a gulp and realised “not all was well” before suffering from “flashes of darkness” and “periods of blackness” as he went in and out of consciousness, the court was told. The next thing he knew he was naked on Mr Wrench’s bed, and the presenter was putting a pill into his mouth, it is alleged.

Constance Briscoe, for the prosecution, said: “To get his way with the victim, he drugged him and he raped him and he sexually assaulted him.”

Earlier that evening the alleged victim had met up with a former partner and the two men had a meal together. Later he went on to the party in Kennington where he talked to Mr Wrench about his radio career.

During the conversation, the presenter offered the man cocaine and they snorted it together in the toilet, the court was told. Later Mr Wrench made a pass at the man, who rebuffed his advances.

Just before the party ended, some time after 4am, the presenter asked him if he wanted to go to his home to see his art collection, jurors were told.

The man, who now works as a PA for a chief executive, was “a bit suspicious”, Ms Briscoe said, but Mr Wrench told him: “Don’t worry, it’s not for sex.”

They took a taxi to Mr Wrench’s flat in Finsbury Park, North London, where the presenter showed him some of the paintings on the wall then offered him a drink.

“He went into another room and returned with two glasses of what [the alleged victim] believed was champagne,” Ms Briscoe said. “He took a gulp of champagne and he knew that not all was well . . . he rushed to the toilet to wash his mouth out.

“His eyes started to turn in his head and he began to get flashes of darkness that fluctuated with periods of blackness and flashes of lucidity. He was in and out of consciousness.

“His next recollection was that he was somehow on the defendant’s bed.” Mr Wrench is accused of rape, sexual assault and administering temazepam with the intention of “stupefying or overpowering” his alleged victim to have sex, on January 1 last year. He denies all charges.

The trial continues.

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