A MOTHER from Hartford was held in a house in Godmanchester for 10 days while she was sexually assaulted, a court was told on Monday. The woman eventually dialled 999 after 50-year-old Paul Hagan-Chambers left the house to buy cigarettes, the prosecution

A MOTHER from Hartford was held in a house in Godmanchester for 10 days while she was sexually assaulted, a court was told on Monday.

The woman eventually dialled 999 after 50-year-old Paul Hagan-Chambers left the house to buy cigarettes, the prosecution said.

Mr Hagan-Chambers denies four counts of rape, and one of sexual assault, relating to incidents said to have taken place at his home in Tudor Road, Godmanchester, in 2006.

At Peterborough Crown Court, prosecutor Claire Matthews told the jury: "Paul Hagan-Chambers and the woman met in 2005. They became friends and a sexual relationship began. This ended in October 2005, when he tried to force himself on her.

"On March 16 last year, he made contact with her again, saying he was ill. She went to see him at his home but when she tried to leave he became violent towards her.

"He grabbed her out of the blue. He sat on her with his hands around her throat. He lost the plot - went ballistic. She thought he was going to kill her.

"He asked her where she wanted to be buried."

Mrs Matthews alleged that the victim was then raped by the defendant.

She added: "On March 26, she managed to call 999 after he left her alone to go to buy cigarettes.

"She has had to deal with severe consequences as a result of her ordeal."

Mr Hagan-Chambers left the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and has since moved away from Hartford, alone in his house on another occasion during the 10 days.

He was said to have visited the One Stop shop in Godmanchester where he tried to use her credit card. When questioned about using the card, Mr Hagan-Chambers claimed the woman had been mugged and was staying at his house, the court heard.

Mrs Matthews went on to say that on March 25 the woman was allowed to visit a branch of Barclays Bank to transfer money to her daughter, who was overseas.

"She will forever regret going back to the house," said Mrs Matthews.

In police interview, Mr Hagan-Chambers said that both he and the alleged victim had a drink problem.

He admitted that they had rowed, and also on July 27 last year he had pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He said this had been self-defence.

Also in police interview, Mr Hagan-Chambers said the pair had had consensual sex and extensive injuries on the woman's body had been the result of a 'playful wrestle'.

In December 2006 a jury at a separate trial found Hagan-Chambers guilty of a further charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. This related to an incident near the end of the 10-day period, when he wrapped a length of tubing around his victim's neck.

Mr Hagan-Chambers, who has a history of self-harm, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

However, the jury in the case in December had not been able to reach a verdict on the rape and sexual assault charges.

The case continues.