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A GWENT motorist told a jury of the moment he was flagged down by a "distressed" woman claiming she had been raped and dumped in a Llanwern lane.

The alleged victim, in her late twenties, claims Paul Brand, 20, of Buttermere Way, told her he would give her a lift home, but instead drove her to a secluded lane in Llanwern.

She claims Brand dragged her from the car by her hair, raped her and drove off.

Brand denies charges of kidnapping, rape and theft.

Lee Chapman, 19, of Piper Close, Newport denies the charge of kidnapping.

Peter James Probert, of Llanwern, had been driving from his home to the local golf club when the woman flagged him down after 6am on October 14 in the Biston Road area.

He told the jury: "She was obviously very upset and was very tearful."

Mr Probert said the woman had dirt on her face and didn't seem familiar with the area.

He said she claimed she had been raped, so he called the police and waited with her until they arrived.

The jury also heard from police who picked up the victim.

Detective Victoria Williams interviewed her that day.

Ms Williams said: "She was extremely distressed, her makeup had run all down her face and her jeans were ripped and dirty."

The jury saw a video of the alleged route Brand and Chapman drove with the woman from Chepstow Road in Newport to a lane in Llanwern.

Defending Brand, Harry Baker noted that the woman had first thought the car was white and said Brand's car is in fact burgundy.

Defending Chapman, Robert Duval, asked the witnesses if the woman had appeared sober.

Mr Probert said she had been sober in his opinion and PC Cheverton said she was unsure.

Porceeding.

9:26am Friday 28th March 2008

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