An Eastbourne man accused of raping a teenager told police his alleged victim was jealous because he had a new girlfriend.

Daniel Jessup, 20, a builder of Petworth Place, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, said the girl "flipped" when she read text messages on his mobile from his girlfriend.

He said moments earlier he and the girl had sex with her consent at her flat in Eastbourne town centre in March last year.

Jessup has denied two charges of raping the 19-year-old girl and also of falsely imprisoning her. He has admitted a charge of wounding.

The jury at Lewes Crown Court has heard how Jessup and the girl knew each other before the alleged attack.

He called at her home and after an argument she claimed he violently beat her before raping her.

She said he punched her at least 30 times, threw cups at her and pushed her into a cupboard.

She said he threatened to kill her and she was so scared she agreed to sex.

In an interview with police read out to the jury, Jessup denied sexually attacking the girl.

He said: "She flipped after reading my text messages from my girlfriend. She was going mental, hitting me and crying her eyes out.

"She just kicked off at me saying I used her."

He said he pushed her away and she hit her head on a chest of drawers beside the bed, which caused a cut.

He said he wanted to go to hospital with her but she rushed from the flat while he was getting dressed.

He said: "I never punched her. I never threatened to kill her. She said she was going to kill me for using her."

He told the officers he had a "beautiful" girlfriend and he had no need to force himself on another woman.

The trial continues.