Metro

Accused rapist claims ‘drunk’ victim invited him in for sex

The accused East Village rapist appears to be using a blame-the-victim defense.

Fermin Flores told cops that the young women he allegedly attacked in her East Village pad last month was so drunk the bartender at the restaurant where they met refused to serve her more alcohol, so he escorted her home, according to court papers made public Tuesday. He maintains she invited him upstairs, despite her extreme inebriation, where he claims they had “consensual” sex, according to his statement to cops.

Flores told cops he met the alleged victim at the San Loco restaurant on Second Avenue at about 2 a.m. Jan. 13. when she walked in alone and sat at the bar.

“The victim ordered a drink but the bartender refused to serve her because she was drunk,” Flores told cops Jan. 14 after he was arrested. “She seemed like she was drunk … by the way she moved and spoke.”

Flores admitted he’d guzzled at least six beers that night.

Although the pair didn’t flirt or talk much, Flores said, he asked if he could walk her home and waited for her outside and didn’t tell his friends he was leaving. He followed a few steps behind her and the two didn’t speak, he told police.

When they got to her East Seventh Street pad, she invited him upstairs and they had consensual sex. At one point, she asked him to hit her but he refused, he said.

The victim claimed Flores followed her to her building, forced his way inside and brutally raped and strangled her.

Neighbors reported hearing her scream.

The shaken victim was taken to Beth Israel Hospital after the alleged crime.

Flores pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court before Justice Charles Solomon

He’s charged with rape, burglary, criminal sex act and strangulation.

“It was consensual,” said his defense lawyer Roger Asmar. “There was absolutely no force.”