FRANCIS:SEX ATTACKER STUBBED CIGARETTE OUT ON WOMAN’S STOMACH

An accused rapist strangled a woman and stubbed out a lit cigarette on her stomach during a sickening attack, a court heard.

David Francis, 50, dragged the woman into his flat by the hair before choking her unconscious and raping her, it was said.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Francis left her with more than 80 injuries.

Janine Sheff, for the prosecution, said the alleged victim was known to Francis and on the night of the incident he had sent her abusive texts calling her a ‘wench’ threatening her with violence.

At around 1am on February 11 this year, she went to his home in Stoke Newington, north London, to confront him, and he was initially friendly when she arrived.

They went to a local shop to pick up some food, but as they returned, Francis became angry again after losing his key to let himself back into the flat, jurors heard.

‘He then without any warning whatsoever, dragged her into the flat by pulling her hair,’ said Ms Sheff.

‘He grabbed her around the throat with both hands, choking until she fell unconscious.

‘She says that he continued to choke her in this way, and was in and out of consciousness as a result.’

Around three times, she came around to find Francis performing  during which he told her ‘Good girl, you needed that, I needed you to shut up,’ said Ms Sheff.

He then forced her on to the bed where he raped her and beat her.

Francis also stubbed out a lighted cigarette on her stomach, jurors were told.

‘What she remembers next is waking up in the afternoon following the assault,’ said Ms Sheff.

‘She saw the defendant smoking crack, and saw that she had no clothes on.

‘She went and got dressed and immediately left the flat.’

The woman initially did not go to police, but finally dialed 999 when she bumped into Francis at a chemist and he allegedly threatened to attack her with a bottle.

The defendant was arrested at the scene and claimed he had forcibly removed the woman from his house after a row.

Francis, of (Flat 18), Beck House, Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, denies two counts of rape, and attempting to render the woman unconscious by strangling, suffocating or choking her.

He further denies charges of common assault and actual bodily harm against the same victim.

The trial continues.
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