A MAN raped a prostitute in his car, a court heard yesterday.

Peter Thompson, 20, of Portman Street, Middlesbrough, is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with two counts of rape, which he denies.

Stephen Ashurst, prosecuting, said the woman had been picked up by Mr Thompson in Middlesbrough last year. She had agreed to have sex for £30.

However, he said, after they drove to Cannon Park Industrial Estate Mr Thompson lost his temper and held her prisoner in the car before raping her.

Mr Ashurst said: "He told her he was a psychopath and he would arrange to have someone shoot her."

The woman, who was left at the industrial park, managed to get home and the police were called, he said.

At first, Mr Thompson denied being with a prostitute.

The court heard that the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, picked him out of a police identity parade.

When DNA matching his was found on her clothing, he admitted he had been with her that night, but said anything that had happened was consensual, Mr Ashurst said.

The trial continues