A STUDENT who arrived home from college with leaves and twigs in her hair told her mother she had been raped in the woods by two men, a court heard yesterday.

The 17-year-old said she was grabbed soon after she got off the bus at her usual stop in Stanley, County Durham.

The girl, who was never late, has learning difficulties, and her mother had phoned the college and bus company looking for her before she turned up 35 minutes later than usual.

The girl told police in a videoed interview that five minutes' walk from the bus stop, Wayne Burdis, 20, took hold of her wrists and dragged her into the woods.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said the girl told police Burdis held on to her as another man, identified as 19-year-old Ashley Allon, raped her.

The men, who are cousins, were arrested and Mr Allon said Mr Burdis had asked the girl if they could have sex and she consented.

Miss Richardson said: "The Crown would say that this is a classic case of two men who knew this girl was a bit slow, who took advantage of her and who agreed what to say to the police."

Mr Allon, of Coates Close, Stanley, and Mr Burdis, of Hollyhill Gardens, Stanley, both deny rape on September 18, last year.

Mr Allon also denies a charge of indecent assault.

The case continues.