A Thai sex worker says she was raped by her former boss's friend at her workplace - a flat in Canberra's inner north providing erotic services - almost five years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But the accused man, Melbourne-based Robert Dick, is expected to tell a jury any sexual activity with the alleged victim was consensual.
And his barrister, Ray Livingston, has said Dick - who was also known as ''Uncle'' or ''Bobo'' to the complainant - will give evidence during the trial about suffering from erectile dysfunction at the time.
The 57-year-old has been charged with twice having sex with the woman against her will and on one occasion committing an act of indecency on her without consent.
The charges relate to what the prosecution says are three separate incidents in mid-2007 at a two-bedroom apartment in Braddon involved in the sex industry.
Dick has pleaded not guilty in the ACT Supreme Court, and a jury heard yesterday the man was diagnosed in 2009 with a serious bone marrow disorder.
But his alleged victim says Dick forced himself upon her with a sex toy, despite her verbal and physical protests, a short time after the complainant arrived in Australia.
The alleged victim made an arrangement with another Thai woman, and arrived in Canberra in June 2007 to work in the sex industry. Dick and the woman collected the alleged victim from the airport and eventually brought her to the Braddon unit.
The complainant, who is giving evidence by video-link and with the aid of an interpreter, said she would send some of her earnings to family.
She told the jury one evening, after she had finished work, Dick entered her room wearing just a long gown and asking for a massage.
The complainant, through the translator, said she warned him away in both Thai and limited English, saying she was very tired and respected him ''like a brother''.
The woman said the defendant left the room and returned with the sex toy, which she claimed he then used on her despite her struggling.
In his opening submission, Mr Livingston flagged his client's intention to argue a similar incident did occur, but was consensual.
The complainant will continue giving evidence before Justice Richard Refshauge today.