A WOMAN feared for her life as she was being raped in Lancaster City Centre one night, a court has heard.

It is claimed that Mamadou Bah offered to give her cannabis before attacking his victim near a supermarket.

She made a complaint to police that night, but he was only arrested nearly a year later, having been stopped on a road traffic matter and linked by DNA samples to both matters, Preston Crown Court heard.

The 28 year old of Bank Road, Lancaster, denies a charge of raping the woman in September 1999.

At the start of the trial, Mr Brian Cummngs, prosecuting, said she had been sat on benches at Horseshoe corner with five others, some of whom were homeless.

At 9pm the defendant came by and gave some money to one of the homeless people.

He walked on, but later, around 11pm, Bah hailed the woman as she was walking home through the city centre.

He asked if she smoked 'ganja', engaging her in conversation, saying he would give her some to smoke.

He said they should go somewhere more quiet, where police would not see him.

They went to the back of Sainsbury's. He did not produce and ganja, but instead pushed her to the ground, sat astride her and told her to shut up.

The woman tried to make a run for it but was grabbed by both legs, hitting the back of her head as she fell.

Despite her screams Bah pulled her clothes off and raped her, the prosecution allege. The man left the scene and after the woman left she came across some lads, telling them she had been raped.

They set off to try and find him and found a man hiding in some bushes and challenged him. He managed to get away.

The matter was reported to police and forensic evidence taken, but that was as far as things went.

Mr Cummings added that on June 25 last year Bah was arrested for a road traffic matter.

He gave a DNA sample that was screened and matched a swab taken from the woman. He was arrested on the allegation of rape on September 5.

He denied having had sex with any woman in the city centre, or even stopping and speaking to a woman. The court was told that his defence was now one of consent. The complainant told the jury the man had asked if she smoked 'ganja' -- cannabis.

She had said not really, but would not mind a bit to get her to sleep that night.

At first he said he was only joking and messing about when he put his arm around her.

She said she could not move when he went on to pin her to the ground.

"I lied and said I was pregnant. I thought he was going to kill me."

Afterwards he left as if nothing had happened, the woman said. The trial continues and is expected to last several days.