A POLICE officer told a jury yesterday that when they arrested a man accused of rape, one of his alleged victims, who was travelling with him was "petrified" of him.

Jury members at Newport Crown court heard Michael Glyn Thomas raped a woman in her home in December 2007.

It is alleged he forced his way in wielding a hammer before dragging her upstairs and raping her.

After the attack, the woman said she needed to go out for cigarettes, and she drove with Thomas to a garage, where she told a cashier what happened and they agreed to call the police.

PC Claire Hopkins told the court she arrived on the scene on the A465 at Brynmawr and spoke with the woman after her car had been pulled over by other officers, who had been told to be on the lookout for it.

PC Hopkins said: "She was petrified, as I opened the door, all I heard was a yelp - she was crying, very upset."

Thomas, 44, of Dolau-ys-Coed, Fforest Coalpit, denies seven counts of rape on three women, three counts of attempted rape, three of indecent assault, and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He also faces charges of false imprisonment, making threats to kill and sexual assault.

The offences, which involve four different women, are alleged to have taken place between August 31 1986 and December 28, 2007.

The court heard the woman had a dishevelled appearance and told PC Hopkins she had been raped by Thomas.

PC Hopkins added: "Officers brought Michael Thomas alongside the car, she put her hands on her head and screamed 'don't let him near me.'"

Proceeding.