A FORMER soldier accused of raping a woman in her home yesterday told a jury: "I did not rape her."

John Ellison is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with rape and indecent assault.

The prosecution allege the former Scots Guard raped the woman in her living room on November 15 last year after he lost his temper because he found toiletries belonging to her ex-husband.

Mr Ellison, 32, of Sunniside, Tow Law, County Durham, denies the charges.

When Dan Cordey, prosecuting, put it to Mr Ellison that he had attacked and raped the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, he said: "I did not rape her, Sir."

He later added: "I did not sexually assault her, Sir."

The court had previously heard the woman allege Mr Ellison had put a belt around her neck and tightened it before raping and indecently assaulting her.

And a police surgeon had previously told the jury the woman had suffered injuries, such as bruises and grazes.

Mr Ellison said he had no recollection of hitting the woman and said: "I don't recall having a fight with her. If I had put that belt around her neck I honestly believe I would remember that, no matter how drunk I was."

He told the jury both he and the woman were "mortal" drunk.

Mr Ellison said he and the woman had met in a Bishop Auckland bar, where they shared a kiss, before going to her house for a drink.

He said they both willingly went upstairs to bed, where there was consensual sexual contact, but did not have sex because of the amount of alcohol that had been drunk.

Judge Peter Armstrong is due to sum the case up to the jury this morning before it retires to consider its verdict later today.