A MAN accused of violently raping a woman after dragging her down a river bank referred to England as a “bitch country” and claimed he was Saddam Hussein, a court heard.

Abdel-Aziz Al-Shamary, 21, is said to have made the comments to police involved in his arrest following an incident in which a woman was attacked near to the River Skerne in Darlington town centre, behind Halfords.

The defendant, who had been watching ‘outdoor sex’ videos on his mobile phone hours earlier and drunk two large bottles of whiskey, appeared agitated and was shouting and was only restrained when he was threatened with a Taser weapon.

In a statement read out to the jury in Mr Al-Shamary’s trial at Teesside Crown Court, Sergeant Gary O’Neill said: “He began shouting words to the effect that he was Saddam Hussein.”

Sgt O’Neil said the defendant was shouting “Kill me now” as he was transported to custody, adding: “He shouted on at least two occasions ‘Bitch country.’”

PC Jacqueline Mallows said she was on patrol in a marked police car in Parkgate, Darlington, when she saw Mr Al-Shamary, who matched the description of a man wanted for rape.

She said he seemed unsteady on his feet and was intoxicated with glazed eyes and smelt strongly of alcohol.

The PC said she went to take hold of him, but he brushed her off telling her not to touch him.

More officers joined her at the scene and Mr Al-Shamary was taken to the ground and had a Taser ‘dot’ pointed at him, which she said seemed to calm him and enable her to put handcuffs on him.

PC Mallows said before his arrest the defendant, who denies rape and attempted rape on May 16/17 this year, told her: “I will not speak to you, you are a woman. “In my country we speak to men.”

A few minutes earlier another witness said she encountered a “smirking” Mr Al-Shamary as she walked with a friend into the town centre to get some food.

She said he was staggering and after going “toe to toe” with her he lunged at her as if he was going to grab her.

The witness, who picked the defendant out from an identity parade, said she felt intimidated and frightened and described how her friend had stood in front of her to protect her.

She said she told Mr Al-Shamary to “f off” and also claimed that after he went on his way he turned round and said: “Allah is going to get you”.

The alleged victim of the rape, a woman who had been drinking in the Greyhound pub in Parkgate up until closing time before attempting to make her way home, said she was grabbed and pushed to the floor before being hit in the face and stomach and raped.

She said Mr Al-Shamary, who had some of the woman’s DNA found on his underwear, had threatened to kill her if she went to the police.

Mr Al-Shamary, of Pensbury Street, Darlington, has admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The trial continues.