A STRANGER who allegedly beat and raped a young woman in a car park stairwell appeared in court yesterday almost 16 years after the attack.

Andrew Russell, now 31, is alleged to have grabbed his victim by her hair, repeatedly punched her, and raped her as she made her way home from a Christmas party in December 1989.

Teesside Crown Court was told a nationwide hunt for the rapist was launched and about 40 potential suspects were interviewed by police.

Media appeals showing an e-fit picture of the alleged rapist were also circulated, but the attacker remained at large. Two years later, the case was closed but, following a Home Office initiative last year, it was re-opened and DNA samples taken at the time were tested.

The samples were compared against the police national database and were matched against Mr Russell, of Prenton, The Wirral, Merseyside, who denies rape and attempted buggery.

The chances of the rapist being someone other than the defendant were one in 351 million, the prosecution said.

Christopher Attwooll, prosecuting, said the 27-year-old victim had been enjoying a Christmas meal with work colleagues at a restaurant, on Monday, December 18, 1989.

She returned to her car, which was parked in a multi-storey car park, near Tower Street, Stockton, at 12.30am.

Mr Attwooll said the victim was afraid of being on her own late at night. She had tried to get someone to accompany her to her car, but no one was around.

He said: "It was an extremely violent incident. She was punched and beaten, terrified and traumatised.

"He was running upstairs towards her. She turned to run, but he immediately grabbed hold of her by the hair, kicked her and repeatedly punched her in the face.

"The attacker pushed her back on to the landing floor.

"He shouted to her: 'Shut up or you will make it worse.' She tried her utmost to fight off her attacker but he was too strong.

"The ordeal lasted approximately 20 minutes, throughout which she was terrified."

The court was told he twice performed a sex act on the woman, who cannot be named, raped her and tried to carry out a serious sexual assault before running off.

During the rape, the attacker repeatedly told his victim he loved her.

The court heard Mr Russell was arrested in December last year and admitted he had been living in the Oxbridge area of Stockton at the time of the rape, when he was aged 16.

Mr Attwooll said: "He completely denied any involvement and could offer no explanation for the DNA findings."

He added: "The chances of it being anyone else is one in 351 million against the entire population, let alone against someone actually living in close proximity to the offence."

The trial continues.