A woman who was allegedly drugged and gang raped tricked her attackers into letting her go, a court heard.

The 21-year-old, who cannot be named, broke down in tears at Lewes Crown Court as she relived her night-long ordeal last April.

The woman, who met three of her alleged attackers after accepting a lift outside a pub, said: "Suddenly they were all there shouting abuse.

"I thought if I stuck up for myself and said I was going to go, they might let me. It made them really angry and one hit me."

The prosecution say a knife was held to her throat at the flat of Pedro Baptiste in St Michael's Place, Brighton, before she lost consciousness.

The woman escaped the next morning by persuading one of the men to join her for a walk and then jumping into a taxi.

Menghistu Bizabhu, 20, of Sackville Road, Hove, denies charges of rape, false imprisonment and assault. A charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice was dropped yesterday.

Yafat Berhane, 18, of London, and Serge Agro, 24, of no fixed abode, both deny charges of rape and false imprisonment.

Baptiste, of St Michael's Place, denies false imprisonment. The trial continues.