THE friend of a Wearside woman who is alleged to have been raped in her home by a stranger, told a court yesterday of the distressed state she found her friend in after the ordeal.

The ex-flatmate of the victim told the court how she received a phone call from her in the afternoon of February 23 last year.

The sobbing victim asked her if she would come over to help, the court heard.

The 28-year-old, who cannot be named, was attacked by Peter Edwards, 42, on February 23 last year, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

She invited him into her home, but once inside the flat it was claimed Edwards pounced on her after trying to force her into oral sex and then raped her.

Yesterday her ex-flatmate broke down as she told the court: "I was at my boyfriend's flat when she phoned. She seemed very upset, but did not tell me what was wrong, she just asked me to come over.

"I went straight to her house and when I got there she was very distressed, she was crying.

"I asked her what was wrong and she said a man had just raped her, then we both cried together and held each other."

Edwards, a married man, was arrested and said although he had slept with the woman he had not raped her.

The born-again-Christian said it was not the first time he had had sex with a stranger during his seven-year marriage.

When asked about the bruising on the woman's arms he said: "She must have got someone to do it to her to back up her story."

Christopher Knox, defending, told the court how the woman has a history of self harm.

Edwards, of Pennine Court, Doxford Park, Sunderland, denies rape.

The trial continues.