A jealous lover raped his girlfriend while she lay dying of a drugs overdose, a Court heard.

Jason Halliley, 30, was angry after his girlfriend Rachel Mooney spent an evening out with a work colleague, a jury at Leeds Crown Court was told. After a drunken row at their flat at Chadwick Fold Lane, Mirfield, Miss Mooney swallowed an overdose of pills.

While she was in bed, barely conscious, Halliley raped her twice and committed grievous bodily harm by violently using sex aids on her, causing serious internal injury.

She never regained consciousness and was found to be dead the next morning.

Halliley called police to report the death and the rape allegation came to light when a pathologist examined her, finding bruising to her scalp and body. Andrew Dallas, prosecuting, said Miss Mooney had died in "unusual and tragic circumstances".

He said: "Somehow in a night of heavy drinking and arguments, she swallowed tablets and while she was lying comatose and dying, the defendant molested her, had intercourse and also inflicted serious internal injuries on her."

He described to the court how Miss Mooney who worked for an insurance broker's in Halifax, spent the last night of her life in September 1999 on a work night out in Halifax. Halliley drove her there but later admitted to police he felt "a bit aggrieved" when he found out that instead of a crowd of work colleagues, only one - a man - had turned up to meet his girlfriend.

He returned to Mirfield and spent the night watching a video and drinking two cans of cider, before going out to collect Miss Mooney at midnight. Later, neighbours of the couple heard doors slamming, Mr Dallas said.

He said no one would ever know how or why Rachel came to take the tablets, which were librium and herminoverine, both prescribed to Halliley for his drinking problem.

Toxic levels of both were found in her body and they are known to cause drowsiness, loss of consciousness and gradual failure of the heart and lungs. Halliley told police he never saw her take them.

Halliley pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm but denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of rape.

The case continues.