A DESPERATE plea for help was written on a pub toilet mirror by a woman who said she had been raped by a man with whom she was dining.

Durham Crown Court heard the message, written in lipstick, read: "Can you get help. I need help to get away from the man I'm with. I'm the lady in the pink top".

The woman approached a female member of bar staff to report a blockage in the toilets.

On checking, the bar supervisor saw the message, photographed it, and then rang police.

Officers arrived and arrested 47-year-old Alan Stephenson, who was sitting with the woman at a table at the Sun Inn, in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside.

The court heard the 39-year-old alleged victim told officers she had been raped by Mr Stephenson, at his home in West Rainton, near Durham, the previous evening.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said the woman claimed he took her back to the house, on November 28, and became "abusive, argumentative and sexually intimidating", but she was so fearful of him she had not resisted.

Miss Richardson said he picked her up the next day and took her for the pub lunch.

She told the jury: "You may wonder why she went with this man who she said had raped her, but she was frightened.

"They went together to the Sun Inn and had lunch, but he became agitated, and she became fearful that he would try to get her back for a second go."

Miss Richardson said, when arrested, Mr Stephenson completely denied the allegations.

He said they had consensual sex twice that night, and he believed she had lied to get him in trouble with the police.

Mr Stephenson, of Stables Farm, Marks Lane, West Rainton, denies rape.

The trial continues.