A married executive raped a young secretary in the office toilets after she spurned his sexual advances, a court has heard.

Seeboard office manager Kevin Newnham, 41, allegedly followed the woman to the ladies', forced his way into her cubicle and carried out the attack as his staff worked yards away.

The young woman was so scared she returned to her desk to complete her shift before breaking down and contacting police the following day.

Father-of-two Newnham denies a charge of rape.

The woman gave evidence against her boss on the opening day of his trial at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

Holding back tears, she said: "I went into the toilet. There are no windows so if you shut the door it's pitch black.

"I turned on the light, then turned round to shut the door but Newnham was in the doorway.

"I stepped back and said, 'What are you doing?'. By that time he had moved in and locked the door.

"It happened really quickly. His hands went on my shoulders and I was on the floor.

"I was so scared and shocked I could not move. I did not know what was going on.

"It felt like it went on forever. I could probably have screamed or shouted but I did not.

"I managed to kick him in the leg - at least I think it was his leg - and he got up quickly.

"He looked as though he did not know what he had done."

The court heard how the secretary had become friendly with Newnham, of Chorley Avenue, Saltdean, in the time she had worked at the office.

They often had lunch together, confided in one another about their personal lives and Newnham had visited her at home.

Jonathan Davies, prosecuting, said the relationship turned a corner after the woman split up with her long-term boyfriend.

He said Newnham bombarded her with sexual propositions and directed lewd comments at her throughout the working day.

When the demands became too much she took three days off sick.

She returned to work in September 2003, when the attack is said to have taken place.

Mr Davies said the couple were chatting during a break outside when Newnham pinned her against a wall.

He said he then followed her to the women's toilets.

After his arrest Newnham told police he had occasionally cuddled the woman and kissed her affectionately on the forehead but their relationship had never progressed further.

He told detectives he was on the telephone and sending emails at the time of the alleged attack.

Narita Bahra, defending, asked the woman why she had invited Newnham to her house if he had been harassing her.

Miss Bahra asked: "Your boss is saying to you, 'If I was not married, if I was ten years younger, would you sleep with me?' and you still invited him around?"

The woman said she did not report the harassment because she was scared it would ruin the atmosphere in the office.

She was still suffering repercussions, she said, adding: "I do not go out a lot, I cannot sleep in the dark and I cannot have a boyfriend. If I'm at a club that is full of men, I just leave."

The case continues.