A MAN held a fake automatic pistol to a prostitute's head and threatened her after she refused to hand back a payment he had given her for sex.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Graeme Nichols followed April Akhtar from his house in Middlesbrough before pushing her against a fence and holding the gun to her neck.

He demanded she return £20 because they had not had full sex and he had paid £40.

The court heard Mr Nichols and a friend had picked up Ms Akhtar at 3am on October 4, in Borough Road, Middlesbrough, and taken her to his parents house in the town.

Adrian Dent, prosecuting, said the defendant's friend had sex with Ms Akhtar in a bedroom and paid her £40 and she was later joined by Mr Nichols.

Mr Dent said he paid her the same amount but demanded a refund when they did not have full sex.

Ms Akhtar gave him £13 before leaving the house and calling the police.

As she walked towards Middlesbrough town centre from Mr Nichol's home in The Greenway she was followed by the accused.

"It seems the defendant, even though he had got some of the money, was extremely unhappy with what happened," said Mr Dent.

"So incensed was he that he armed himself with an imitation handgun. He left the house and followed her. He told her to give him the money, he was threatening her with the gun."

Mr Dent said the weapon, which was later recovered from his family home, was an 8mm automatic pistol that had been deactivated and had the appearance of a real firearm.

Mr Nichols, 24, pleaded not guilty to robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.

The trial continues.