A 'BESOTTED' man denies raping a woman in Worcester, the alleged victim claiming she gave in out of fear as he strangled her during the sex attack.

Badar Ul-Haq denies a single charge of rape but has pleaded guilty to other offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking and controlling behaviour.

The 19-year-old stands accused of raping the woman in the city on September 28, 2019 when he was aged 17.

He maintains the pair were just 'play fighting' before having consensual sex.

Steven Perian QC opened the case to the jury at Worcester Crown Court, telling them that the prosecution case was that he had also physically assaulted her.

Explaining the background to the case, Mr Perian said the defendant had turned up at her address.

He said: "She wanted him to leave but she was unable to do so due to fear of him. He initially was very pleasant to her. They went to bed. He wanted sex. She turned him down.

"When she rejected his request, he became aggressive and strangled her with both hands around her neck.

"The strangulation caused her pain and she struggled to breathe. He eventually released his hold.

"She was afraid of being hurt again and consequently submitted to have sex with him. She didn't want to have sex with him but submitted to it because the defendant had full control over her."

Photos of the injuries were supplied to the jury.

In police interview the defendant denied strangling her, telling officers they had both been 'play fighting' and that sex was 'consensual'.

The defendant of Ivy Square, Osmaston, Derby pleaded guilty on September 4 last year to controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to stalking, but denied a rape charge.

When the complainant, who cannot be identified, was asked by the prosecutor to explain the cause of a mark on her arm, a photo of which was shown to the jury, she replied: "A bite."

She was cross-examined by Lynette McClement, for the defendant. The complainant accepted that Ul-Haq was 'utterly besotted' with her.

However, she denied she had 'wound him up'.

During the alleged rape, the complainant said she had told the defendant 'no' and had been crying. She told the jury: "I gave in to him."

Miss McClement said: "What I'm suggesting is that you didn't say no to him and this was, in effect, sex you didn't really want to have but it wasn't by force. What do you say to that?"

"You're wrong" said the complainant. "I made it clear I didn't want to have sex. I used the word 'no' and I said 'get off'. If at any point I lay there, it was out of fear."

The trial continues.