HARARE - An assistant builder raped a paralysed granny who is on a wheelchair after she spurned his advances for sex, a Harare magistrate has heard.

Francis Franco, 36, allegedly demanded sexual intercourse from the woman before forcibly raping her.

He appeared before magistrate Sandra Mpindu on rape charges yesterday.

The court heard that Franco, who was employed at the  61-year-old woman’s house as an assistant builder, went to the granny’s place in November last year and found her sleeping.

Franco allegedly demanded sex but the woman refused.

Prosecutor Liberty Gono told the court that Franco increased the television’s volume, approached the woman who was seated in a wheelchair, forcibly removed her skirt before raping her.

According to the prosecution, the woman tried to scream but to no avail as she was not feeling well.

After the act, the court heard, Franco put on his clothes and left the house.

The woman later narrated her ordeal to a woman only identified as Mai Bellah who filed a police report leading to Franco’s arrest.

Mpindu remanded Franco in custody to January 23 for trial. - Irvine Zhakata