Arumadura De Silva is accused of assaulting a sleeping woman after a night of drinking with friends.
De Silva, 29, has been charged with sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection following an alleged assault taking place at a Christchurch flat in the early hours of November 11, 2018.
The woman said she awoke in bed to find De Silva performing a sexual act on her.
The accused denies the accusation, insisting the interaction was consensual after he had professed his love for her 10 minutes prior.
"I didn't force anything," De Silva said in an interview with police, a recording of which was played in court.
De Silva said the woman asked him to follow her into the bedroom and initiated their first kiss.
His story vastly differs from the complainant's, who said she was startled to wake up and find De Silva on top of her.
A friend, who was drinking with the pair, said there was very little interaction between the two during the evening.
"I don't even know if they talked, to be honest," the witness said in court.
De Silva's lawyer suggested the woman used him as an alternative to her boyfriend.
The trial is expected to last the week.