A RAPE suspect “manhandled” a woman and forced her into in an alley before a sex attack, a court heard.

Mahad Hussein, 22, is accused of dragging the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, into the alley off Ship Street in The Lanes, Brighton.

She was cornered and he demanded oral sex from her before she could leave, the court heard.

CCTV then showed the two had sexual intercourse, which she says was against her will.

Hussein’s trial at Hove Crown Court started this week.

He is accused of two counts of rape.

Prosecutors say the woman had met him at a party in London and they returned to Brighton together with a group of friends.

She was afraid he had a knife after hearing him make threats earlier in the night, and she also believed he was a drug dealer, the court heard.

A jury of eight women and four men were sworn in before Judge David Rennie, who asked them to “assess the evidence in a cool, calm and objective manner”.

He warned them they would see “distressing” CCTV footage which shows the alleged incident at 5.30am on January 15 this year.

It happened in a small dead-end alley between Marwood Bar and Coffeehouse and Cafe Coho.

Dale Sullivan, prosecuting, opened the case against Hussein, and told the jury the prosecution would have to prove that he knew the woman did not consent to sex.

He said the defendant met the alleged victim at 10.30pm on January 14 at a party in London.

He said they returned to Brighton with friends after an “altercation” at the party, where Hussein and his pals were asked to leave because knives had been produced.

CCTV footage shown to the jury showed Hussein and the woman going around Brighton city centre, and ending up in Duke Street and Ship Street.

It appears to show him grabbing her and pinning her against a wall, and later appearing to trip her over.

Mr Sullivan said: “She was walking home by herself, and recalls being joined by Hussein.

“The first time they had met was the night before at a party.

“She drank alcohol, mostly vodka, given to her by the defendant.

“We suggest that what can be seen on the footage other than sexual interaction is the defendant physically manoeuvring her into that alleyway.

“It shows her trying to leave, but the defendant grabbing hold of her hair and taking her head towards his groin.

“He was generally manhandling her.”

They were interrupted by a delivery driver, Thomas Nicholl, who heard her sobbing and who asked her if she had consented.

She told him she had not and security guard Martin Swerve, working in The Lanes, was then told about the alleged rape and the police were called.

Footage from the guard’s bodycam showed the woman in tears and shock. She remembered Hussein was wearing a black Emporio Armani tracksuit, the court heard.

Hussein, of Copenhagen Place, Tower Hamlets, London, who appeared in the dock wearing a white polo shirt and green trousers, denies rape.

The trial continues.