A man was yesterday jailed for five years for raping a young tourist whom he had met at the Ħaġar Qim temples.

Her last memory was looking at his wall clock before she woke three hours later

Joseph Magro, 55 of Qrendi, invited the 23-year-old back to his house to eat some typical Maltese food after the two crossed paths at the temples on May 19, 2011, the court heard.

She testified that Mr Magro had struck up a conversation with her and said there were other nearby attractions she should visit.

In fact he took her to visit the Blue Grotto and Dingli Cliffs.

He told her that he was a hotel owner and also took tourists on visits across the island.

They went to a bar to have some wine and he then invited her back to his house to have some Maltese food.

She accepted, saying that she suspected nothing untoward about his behaviour because he was such a friendly man.

At one point during the meal, he gave her some alcohol from an open bottle of wine and her last memory was looking at his wall clock, which read 3pm. Three hours later, she woke up on his bed and found herself naked from the waist down.

The court noted that Mr Magro had corroborated her versions of events but denied that he had raped her, arguing that it was consensual.

A court appointed expert found no signs of violence except for some bruises on her arms and one of her legs.

He said he suspected that she had taken liquid ecstasy, which would result in symptoms similar to those she had described.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said there was no concrete proof that the woman had taken the drug but believed her version of events.