A WOMAN was allegedly raped in a schoolyard following a night out in Newport, a court heard yesterday.

Khaliq Hussain, 17, of Newport, is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court, charged with three counts of rape.

The alleged rapes took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 30 this year, after the complainant left the Fire and Ice nightclub on Bridge Street.

The woman, in her 20s, told the jury the defendant, who she did not know, began talking to her in the street and offered to help her find a taxi home.

Her video interview with police was played, in which she said Hussain started off being "really friendly" as he led her up Bridge Street in search of a taxi.

But she said he then dragged her by the arm into the yard of a school in the city centre and started grabbing at her, shouting "shut up or I'll kill you" as she cried her "eyes out".

The woman described how Hussain chased her around the yard, telling her he had to rape her "because you're beautiful," before pulling her to the ground.

After the alleged rapes, she said he offered to pay for her taxi home if she kept quiet about what happened.

When she refused, he made off and a passer-by on Bridge Street saw she was in distress and escorted her to Newport Central Police Station, where she made her complaint.

Prosecuting, Roger Griffiths, showed the jury her torn leggings and underwear, describing how the alleged victim suffered cuts to her arms and scratches on her back.

He said people living near the school heard shouts of "get away from me, leave me alone", at around 3am.

Mr Griffiths added that Hussain said in police interview that the complainant consented to sex. He told officers she only threatened to report him after accusing him of stealing her iPhone.

Defending Hussain, Mary Parry-Evans, said to the complainant: "You walked quite happily away from Fire and Ice, holding hands and talking. You got to the yard and both wanted sex."

Proceeding.