A TEENAGE girl who claims she was raped by a man while she lay in bed has denied making up the allegation in order to make him "go away".

The teenager, who was 15 at the time of the alleged assault, was quizzed via video link by counsel for Derek John Daniels, who is known as John.

Mr Daniels, 30, denies raping a girl aged under 16 and two charges of indecent assault against a 13-year-old and is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Annelise Haugstad, for Mr Daniels, told the court yesterday that the rape claim had been made up deliberately.

However the girl, whose evidence was punctuated by lengthy pauses, told prosecution barrister Euan Duff: "That's just not true."

Mr Daniels, of Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, is alleged to have forced himself on top of the teenager while she was asleep.

He is also accused of indecently touching another 13-year-old girl in two separate incidents.

The Crown says that Mr Daniels had been drinking before the attacks and that injuries received by the older complainant are consistent with rape.

The trial continues.