A TEST on a duvet backed a girl's story that she bit it when she was being raped, a court was told.

The 17-year-old's saliva was found during crime scene investigations on the cover in a bedroom at a house where she was babysitting.

The girl, who gave evidence over a television link, said that Liam Booker, 20, forced himself on her after she stopped a consensual sex session because she felt guilty.

A police surgeon found bruises and an injury caused during sex, said Christine Egerton, prosecuting.

Booker told police that they had vigorous sex, but at one stage it became painful and he apologised.

He said that when others arrived at the house in Brotton, east Cleveland, she called out, "help me".

Miss Egerton told Teesside Crown Court: "She said that she screamed and she bit the duvet cover because the pain was bad. She shouted 'help', and told him to get off her.

"Police seized the duvet cover and it was examined by scientists, and some saliva was found on it. A DNA match was found with her saliva.

"The Crown say it supports her account of being in the front bedroom and biting the duvet cover at the point that he was penetrating her."

After a five-day trial, Booker of Tweed Street, Brotton, was found guilty of the September 19 rape and was remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports.

Booker's family and friends, who had been in court every day, wept at the ten-to-two majority verdict after the jury was out for nearly five hours.