A WOMAN was allegedly raped when a man turned up at her address as she arrived home from work, a court was told.

She was so frightened that she allowed him and his companion into her home, the court heard.

One of them is said to have gone on to rape her in the property, Preston Crown Court heard.

A 45-year-old man, Robert Jackson, of Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, is on trial accused of rape in October last year. Mr Andrew Lowcock, prosecuting, said the woman had returned home from work. She was locking her car when she saw another vehicle approaching, he said. The defendant was in the passenger seat and another man was driving, the court was told.

The woman was frightened and let the two into her home, Mr Lowcock said. Inside, Jackson is alleged to have told the other person to make sure she did not use the telephone. She tried to dial 999, but the other man pulled the wire out of the socket, the court was told. After a while he went outside, leaving the defendant in the home with her, said Mr Lowcock.

Struggling took place before finally she was too tired to struggle, no longer being able to effectively resist him, and sex took place without her consent, said the prosecution. In order to get him to leave, the woman is said to have told him she would not contact police.

Jackson is later said to have admitted that sex took place, but claimed it was with her consent.

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