A JURY has been told that a man accused of raping a teenage girl has criminal convictions for grabbing a 12-year-old’s bottom and groping the breast of a 15-year-old.

Paul Lee, 40, is alleged to have raped a girl after buying her a two-litre bottle of Lambrini and inviting her into his flat when he pushed her onto his bed, hit her in the nose and attacked her.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that Mr Lee, of Station Road, Darlington, was convicted of two sex offences that took place in Newcastle in 2015, both involving underage girls.

Mr Lee was arrested on February 24 this year on suspicion of rape after a girl found her friend crying in the alleyway between Northgate and Commercial Street in Darlington town centre.

The friend, who appeared via video link in court, gave evidence, stating the teenager was sitting next to some bins and repeatedly saying: “Don’t let him near me. Don’t let him see me."

Tom Mitchell, for the defence, questioned the young witness and a former PCSO who dealt with the case and both confirmed the allegation of rape was not made until the complainant was in Darlington Police Station.

The court also heard that the teenage girl had not agreed to a medical examination at the police station and refused to hand over her phone to officers.

Mr Mitchell asked the complainant via video link why she would not submit her phone as evidence and she said there were messages about buying cannabis that she did not want her mother to see. He added: “The truth of the matter is Paul never had sex with you that night, did he?” The complainant replied: “Yeah, he did.”

Footage played in court from body-worn cameras during Mr Lee’s arrest showed the 40-year-old becoming aggressive and agitated after being led from the Best Shawarma takeaway into a police car on Northgate.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting, read out witness statements on behalf of the police officers who interviewed Mr Lee, including DC Helen Hudson, who said: “At 6.21pm we interviewed Paul Lee and at 6.28pm he walked out of the interview room. He had been wearing a custody shirt and towel at the time.

“I followed him back to the cell, where he pulled off the towel to reveal he was naked from the waist down. He grabbed his genitalia and swung it around.”

Mr Lee denies rape and his trial continues.