A woman has told a court how she was raped four times on her way home from a New Year celebration.

The woman, who was 24 at the time, told Lewes Crown Court the horrific attack in the early hours of the millennium might have lasted up to an hour.

John Paul Reynolds, 35, of no fixed address, has denied four counts of rape.

The court heard that the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was living in temporary accommodation in Hove and had spent the evening in the Old Steine, Brighton, with friends.

She said she stopped at a seafront caf on her walk home and also went briefly to a party after meeting a woman en route.

The court heard that at about 5.30am she met a man in Sackville Road, Hove, at the junction with New Church Road.

She said she asked him directions and he walked with her until they reached Aldrington Day Care Centre, in Hove. He told her they could cut through the grounds of the day care centre.

The woman told the court: "He suddenly put his hand over my mouth and dragged me to the ground. I screamed but my scream was muffled because he had his hand over my mouth. He said, 'You know what I'm going to do now, don't you?'."

The court heard she was forced to perform sex acts on her attacker, who raped her four times.

The woman she was revolted and wanted to be sick. It had been the most degrading and painful experience of her life.

She said at one point during the attack the man asked her if she was enjoying it and told her to put more effort into it.

The court was told the man left her after the attack and told her not to leave straight away.

Reynolds was arrested in April, the jury was told. He had been living on a cliff top, at Brighton Marina. DNA samples matched him to the woman.

The woman also picked Reynolds out at an identity parade.

When interviewed by police, Reynolds denied the attack and said he had spent the evening in the Old Steine where nothing remarkable had happened.

The case continues.