A MOTHER-OF-ONE sobbed as she told a court she was raped by a minibus driver after a night out.

The woman, who cannot be named, told Teesside Crown Court that David Briggs attacked her in her home in the early hours of October 21.

She had been drinking in Darlington town centre and visited Escapade nightclub, in Gladstone Street, before she went next door to the United taxi office to hire a minibus driven by the defendant.

It is alleged he laughed at the woman before he raped her in her home.

Mr Briggs, of Kexwith Moor Close, Darlington, has pleaded not guilty to rape and said the woman consented to sex.

Giving evidence via a video link, the woman said: "I was saying 'no', I just kept on repeating 'no'.

"He was laughing when he was doing it.

"I just wanted to get away from him. I was scared."

She admitted she was drunk at the time of the incident.

Yesterday, Mr Briggs told the jury the woman had consented to sex and that he felt guilty for cheating on his wife with her.

The 33-year-old said he pulled on his clothes and left when she became upset, telling him: "We can't do this because if my boyfriend finds out, he will kill me."

He said he was pleased because it did not feel right for him to cheat on his wife. Mr Briggs told the court: "I thought she was an attractive girl. But I did not rape her, I had her full consent.

"I kissed her and it just started from there."

In closing submissions, Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said: "He took advantage of the situation, a unique situation as a taxi driver, he took advantage of a drunken girl."

Tom Mitchell, for the defendant, said: "Sex it was, rape it was not. She has made a mistake to have sex with a stranger and has immediately regretted it."

The jury is expected to retire today to consider its verdict.

* The Northern Echo has been asked to point out that David Briggs does not have a taxi driver's licence with Darlington Borough Council. He does have a licence to drive minibuses from the Traffic Commissioners in Leeds.