THE trial of a Chester man accused of raping a stranger in the city centre is under way at Chester Crown Court.

Connor Brown, 25, of Queen Street, is charged with raping a young woman now aged 24, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Brown denies the charge, alleged to have happened in an alleyway off Northgate Street in the early hours of September 5, 2018.

Outlining the prosecution case on the first day of what is expected to be a four-day trial, Maria Masselis said the alleged victim had gone with her female friend to Rosies nightclub in Northgate Street, having travelled by taxi from Ellesmere Port.

They became separated and the alleged victim realised she was intoxicated and still had her friend's handbag – containing her friend's phone and keys among other items – on her, and was anxious to find her.

The court heard Brown first saw the victim sitting on steps outside the police station just off Northgate Street.

A taxi driver had pulled up by the young woman, telling her to get inside the taxi and he would take her home.

But after the woman said she needed to find her friend, Brown offered to help.

It was around 4am when Brown and the woman left and crossed the road to an alleyway off Northgate Street.

Ms Masselis told the court the prosecution alleged that the rape then took place over the following half an hour.

The alleged victim gave an interview to police where she said initially she and Brown kissed passionately, before she said she wanted to go home.

She said Brown then had the top half of her face pressed against a wall and he lifted up her skirt, and they had sex even though she said "no" several times and that she was on her period. She said she "froze" during the alleged rape.

The young woman added Brown had afterwards started to claim his first name was 'James', not 'Connor', and an argument ensued.

They returned to Northgate Street and two men who saw the young woman saw she was crying and 'very distressed' and contacted police, while Brown walked off.

The court heard Brown accepted he and the woman had kissed passionately and then sexual intercourse, but he said the sex was consensual.

Following the sexual intercourse, he said he asked her if she wanted a taxi, but she told him to go away, so he did.

He alleged the name 'James' was something said by the woman, and was confused, thinking it was the name of her boyfriend.

He denied the allegation the woman had said "no" to sex, or any mention that she was on her period.

The trial, being heard by a jury with His Honour Judge Nicholas Woodward presiding, continues.