Prostitute raped and left half-naked in street, court told

A PROSTITUTE was allegedly raped by a punter before he threw her clothes over a fence, a court heard.

The woman was unable to retrieve her clothing.

Jason Dowding, 20, of no fixed address, is alleged to have raped the woman off a walkway near Cranmer Street, St Ann's, on April 1, 2006.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he had given her a ticket stub instead of cash, forced her against the fence and placed his arm across her throat.

Dowding was aggressive and threatening, prosecutor Stuart Rafferty said as he opened the case to a jury yesterday.

Dowding removed the woman's jacket and pulled off her trousers, he added.

"She was completely naked on her bottom half and wearing a thin top. She realised what was going to happen."

She asked Dowding to wear a condom before he put her against the fence and allegedly raped her before throwing her clothes over the fence, Mr Rafferty told the court.

Shortly afterwards, the woman saw a police officer she knew and told him she had been raped.

The court heard how Dowding allegedly approached her on his bike and asked if she wanted to do business.

The "going rate" was £20, said Mr Rafferty, but Dowding had only £15.

She agreed anyway and wanted to go to a nearby place.

Dowding allegedly would not go there and so they went to a remote spot off the walkway.

She had expected to be paid first, but Dowding handed her the ticket stub, the court heard.

Dowding was arrested on October 11 and gave conflicting stories to officers during his interviews, the court heard.

He initially denied the allegation, claiming to have been at home with his partner and children and insisting that he would never have had sex with a prostitute.

When told about DNA evidence, he said it must have been some terrible mistake.

While police stopped the interview to make further inquiries, Dowding allegedly asked to see the custody sergeant because he said he wanted to tell the truth.

He then admitted having sex with the prostitute, but denied removing her clothes or forcing her.

In another interview, Dowding allegedly said he was lying and he had not given her money and he had raped her.

Proceeding