A WOMAN has told the Central Criminal Court she was sexually assaulted by a man who had told her he fantasised about "having" two women at the same time.

The 37-year-old mother of four - told gardai she ignored his sexual comment but remained in his sitting room with him while her husband and the defendant's girlfriend went out to walk a dog. He was watching the World Cup soccer final on television and she lay on a sofa reading a magazine.

She told the jury she was frozen into shock when the man forced oral sex on her sometime later - after groping her. The jury was also told by Mr Joseph Mathews SC, prosecuting, that the defendant told gardai he kissed her and then said to her he fantasised about a woman "playing with herself up to the point of climax"

The defendant claims she pushed down her pants and began rubbing herself. He fondled her upper body and she performed oral sex on him. They stopped when they heard the woman's husband and the defendant's girlfriend return.

The 46-year-old defendant has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the woman on July 17th, 1994, in Waterford.

Replying to Mr Mathews, the woman said the offence happened during a weekend visit with her husband to the defendant and his girlfriend. She said she must have dozed off as a result of drinking wine earlier at their dinner.

The defendant suddenly put his hand down her leggings to her vaginal area. "I just froze and said `no'. He continued pawing and fondling me and I reacted with shock." He performed oral sex "and I nearly died. I could not believe this was happening to me," the alleged victim added.

She said the defendant must have heard the front door opening before she did because he suddenly jumped back and adjusted his clothing. He sat down on his armchair "and remained as calm as he could". Her husband and defendant's girlfriend joined them.

She did not get involved much in the following conversation which she thought would never end. She wanted to get out of the room, and shortly after that they all went to their beds. She was still confused and shocked but said nothing to her husband. She did not sleep much all night.

The next day after going home she weeded her garden while her husband checked his farm. She was trying to get enough courage to describe to him what happened, she told Mr Mathews.

"The garden is my sanctuary and therapy for my mind. I feel a little more at ease there away from the tensions of life. When my husband sat down beside me I told him what happened," she said. Her husband was very supportive and concerned. They agreed they should go to the Rape Crisis Centre and then they went to the gardai.

Crass-examined by Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, defending, she agreed she told gardai the defendant was drinking a beer and made some "sexual comments" which she said she ignored.

She also agreed she told gardai one of these comments was to the effect that he had a fantasy about "having" two women at one time. Asked by Mr Buckley why she did not leave the room, she said she did not know why.

The woman agreed she told the defendant she had been away on holiday some weeks previously with a female friend and had a good time. This had been at her husband's suggestion to help her recuperate from an operation.

She did not tell the defendant she met men while abroad nor did she recollect him asking her if she had been "bold" while away or if she had done anything she should not have. She agreed with Mr Buckley the defendant was implying that. She denied she said: "That is for me to know and for you to find out.

She agreed the defendant kissed her while she lay on the sofa but denied responding to his kiss.

"I didn't know what the hell was going on," she told the jury.

Pressed by Mr Buckley, she said she could not remember saying to the accused man, "we shouldn't be doing this", she just said: "No, no. Go away." She tried to push him away but she froze with shock.

She did riot remember the defendant asking her to "play" with herself and she did not do that. She would not do that. She did not consent to oral sex with the defendant.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Shanley and the jury.