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A woman has broken down in tears in the Royal Court describing how she was allegedly beaten and raped by a 41-year-old man.
David Nigel Pearce denies four counts of rape and three sexual assaults.
On the second and third day of Mr Pearce's trial, the alleged victim returned to the witness box to continue giving evidence.
She had screens in place to prevent her being seen from the public gallery or by the accused.
On Tuesday, members of the jury listened as the woman recounted an occasion when Mr Pearce had visited her place of work and shouted abuse.
“He came up to my desk and he was calling me a whore and a slut,” she said. “I was shaking, and I made an error when I was sending a document by email.”
Mr Pearce’s conduct left her “absolutely terrified”, the woman added.
Yesterday, she broke down in tears as she described how she was allegedly beaten and raped.
The woman had to leave the witness box for several minutes to regain her composure, after telling the jury that she had been attacked by Mr Pearce.
Advocate David Steenson, defending, suggested that she had made up the allegations.
Sobbing, she said: “Have you ever been beaten up, Mr Steenson? It’s the truth.”
She requested a break before continuing.
The woman said that on one occasion when Mr Pearce raped her she told him “you’re hurting me” and “I’m bleeding”.
“He didn’t say anything,” she said.
Advocate Steenson suggested: “David never raped you. It was always the case that the sexual intercourse was consensual.”
She replied: “Incorrect. I wouldn’t come here and put myself through this if I wasn’t telling the truth.”
On the first day of the trial, the court heard that on other occasions Mr Pearce shouted at his alleged victim, grabbed her by the throat and pinned her down before forcing himself on her sexually, ignoring her cries that he stop because he was hurting her.
Crown Advocate Simon Thomas, prosecuting, said there could be “no basis” for any misunderstanding regarding whether the woman had consented to sex.
Commissioner Alan Binnington is presiding over the trial. It is expected to last several more days.
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