Woman tells of rape ordeal

Antoni Imiela denies nine counts of rape against women and girls

A mother has described how she was raped at knifepoint by a man accused of a series of sex attacks.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the woman was raped on Wimbledon Common in south west London after being grabbed from behind as she walked her dogs.

Antoni Imiela, 49, of Appledore, near Ashford in Kent, denies raping the woman.

The former railway worker also denies eight other counts of rape on woman and girls aged from 10 upwards across the South East of England.

He seemed very happy with himself Alleged victim gives evidence

He also denies the kidnap, indecent assault and attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl in Birmingham.

The court heard on Tuesday the woman had just started her daily walk with her dogs when she was grabbed from behind.

She said: "Totally out of the blue this hand slammed into the back of me, and he grabbed hold of me around the neck and face.

"He said 'don't scream, you won't get hurt'."

Attempted to struggle

The woman told the court she was thrown into long grass and then the man was on top of her.

She said attempts to struggle failed because the man was too strong.

She told the jury: "He put a knife in front of my eyes and said 'See this?'

"Then he put it to my neck and said 'Feel this? I'm going to use it on you if you do anything like that again.'

"As I got up I instinctively tried to look at him.

"I got a glimpse of him before he hit my head back and said 'Don't look at me'."

Tied feet together

The court heard the attacker had also pulled the woman's t-shirt over her face so he could not see her and then cut her trousers off with a knife.

She said after raping her he tied her feet together using her bra, then threw her jumper at her so she could make herself "decent".

She told the trial: "Just before he went he said to me 'By the way, you weren't a bad ride'.

"He seemed very happy with himself."

Mr Imiela denies all the charges against him, relating to the attacks which are said to have happened in 2001 and 2002 in London, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Birmingham.

The trial continues.