Four people 'raped at knifepoint'

A Kent man held two couples captive for nearly four hours and raped them at knifepoint, a court has been told.

Daniel Owen, 35, of Valley Drive, Gravesend, denies four counts of false imprisonment and rape, two indecent assaults and two counts of robbery.

An alleged victim told Maidstone Crown Court Mr Owen forced his way into his flat last August.

The court heard Mr Owen carried out the alleged attacks then left saying he was going to hang himself.

'Noose around neck'

The alleged victim said he was in the flat with his girlfriend and another couple in the early hours when Mr Owen knocked at the door.

He claimed Mr Owen pushed his way in and threatened them with a knife before taking their mobile phones and telling them to remove their clothes.

"He was saying that he was going to kill me," the witness said.

"He was pushing the knife into my chest.

"My girlfriend was saying 'please don't kill him, we're getting married'."

The man told the court he followed Mr Owen when he left after the attacks and found him in the corridor with a noose around his neck.

The witness said he then went to tell the other alleged victims, but Mr Owen returned minutes later asking for car keys.

The alleged victim said he gave Mr Owen keys to one of their cars before they fled and called the police.

The trial continues.