A masked sex attacker slashed a teenager 35 times in a car park at an isolated beauty spot, a jury heard today.

She was stabbed in the face, hands and neck, and left with permanent scars.

The powerfully-built man tried to rob the 17-year-old and her 19-year-old boyfriend after threatening them with a gun and knife, said Christine Laing, prosecuting.

He fired the gun, hit the youth over the head and locked him in the boot of his car in the Ditchling Common car park, near Burgess Hill, on January 18 last year.

He then ordered the girlfriend to strip when she said she had no money or mobile phone, said Miss Laing.

When the teenager resisted what she thought would turn into a rape, the man stabbed her 35 times in the face, hands and neck.

The girl kicked out at his groin and sent the attacker fleeing as her boyfriend managed to free himself through the rear seat of his Ford Sierra car.

She was taken to hospital where she received 143 stitches. Some of the wounds had cut down to the bone and left permanent scarring - particularly to the girl's face, said Miss Laing.

Unemployed father-of-four Ian Haywood, 37, of Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint, denies attempted murder, attempted rape, false imprisonment and two offences of attempted robbery.

Miss Laing alleged Haywood was arrested after his wife, Ann, contacted police.

Miss Laing said the gun, which was only capable of firing blanks, was never recovered. But the blade of a knife was found near the scene of the attack.

Giving details of the attack, she said: "The victim had no doubt that he intended to rape her. Although terrified, she realised he had put the gun away and was holding a knife."

She said the terrified victim pleaded with the attacker and screamed to her boyfriend for help as the man started stabbing her.

Miss Laing added: "Both the voracity of the blows and the number and direction of them left her in no doubt that he was trying to kill her."

The girl curled up and "played dead" after sending the man reeling with a kick, she added.

She said: "Doctors said the injuries were the result of one of the most brutal attacks they had ever seen."

The victim's boyfriend later told the court he thought they would both be killed when he was forced into the boot. He said: "I was very scared."

The trial continues.