Male model's blood-curdling explanation to the woman he allegedly raped.

Trigger warning: This article contains information about sexual assault which may be distressing for some readers.

When a woman woke to a man sexually assaulting her, he apologised, telling her he thought she was ‘someone else’.

According to law enforcement officials, 34-year-old male model Henry Romero is charged with raping a 31-year-old woman in a Manhattan apartment in March.

The woman allegedly woke around 6am with her pants down, and realised Henry was kissing her neck while having sex with her, the New York Post reports.

The woman reported the alleged incident in early April, and Henry was arrested on April 25. He faced court this week, and pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree rape.

Henry had been introduced to the woman by friends, with the alleged victim's roommate allowing him to sleep over in the apartment's living room after they spent the night clubbing.

When the woman asked her alleged attacker what he was doing, he apologised, telling her he thought he was actually sleeping with her roommate instead.

"He went into my room, thinking it was me!" the alleged victim's roommate told the New York Post.

"I heard her say, 'Get off me! Get off me!'" the woman said, after being woken by the sounds of a commotion in the room next door.

"And then he said, 'I'm sorry! I thought you were [your roommate]."

The alleged  victim then protested, screaming, "What do you mean? She's blonde and I have black hair!" the roommate said.

The woman - who, alongside the alleged victim, has not been named - said she was Henry's date on the group's night out, but left early when he started acting "creepy".

"He said, 'I want you to dance for me - that's why I brought you here,'" she said.

"The way he said it was just weird."

She left the bar, and when she returned to her apartment, Henry was on the floor, asleep.

The alleged victim - who was visiting from another country and staying in the apartment - had, for some reason, fallen asleep in the roommate's bed.

Henry is free on bail and faces felony rape charges. He is due back in court on August 1.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT.