A TEENAGE prostitute was blindfolded and raped at knife-point by a man who then robbed her, a court heard yesterday.

Paul Kennedy, 38, of Manor Drive, Featherstone, is alleged to have raped the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in December 1999.

Teesside Crown Court heard she had been left "distressed, upset and traumatised" by the attack.

Her sister told the court that when she arrived home the teenager had said she had been robbed and raped by a "punter" who had picked her up in Middlesbrough's red light district and driven her to a dark area in his 4x4 vehicle.

There, the court heard, he paid her £40 for a sex act, but then "changed", put sticky tape over her eyes, made her strip and then raped her, the court was told.

The court heard he then asked for his £40 back, and stole a further £80 she had tucked in her boot.

The court heard that just after the attack the girl had spoken to a Christian outreach worker from Team Outreach in Middlesbrough, which provides support for prostitutes in the area.

Maureen Weston told the court the girl was "very distressed" was "shaky, panicky and frightened" and told Mrs Weston that the man had "run the knife up and down her stomach".

She said: "She was frightened to go to the police. The girls think because they are prostitutes the police will not believe them. What I said was that just because she was a prostitute, she still had the right to say no."

Mr Kennedy, a lorry driver from Pontefract, is said to have driven to the red light area on trips to Hartlepool, the court previously heard.

He denies raping and robbing two prostitutes, indecently assault and attempting to rob a third and robbing the other.

The trial continues.