A trainee parking warden accused of raping a student refused to answer questions during four police interviews, a court heard.

Michael Stanley Phillips, 25, stayed silent as officers quizzed him about the attack on the 18-year-old.

After he was charged, his solicitor handed detectives two written statements in which Phillips pleaded his innocence, Lewes Crown Court heard yesterday.

Phillips, of Plymouth Avenue, Bevendean, Brighton, denies two counts of rape, indecent assault and robbery.

The student, who is German, was attacked as she returned to her host family's home in Bevendean last July.

She was taking a short cut through parkland, known as The Farm, after getting off a late bus when she was targeted.

Phillips was arrested two days later after police traced numbers from a mobile phone found at the scene.

Detective Constable Paul Norlund, who interviewed Phillips, told the court he refused to answer any questions during four police interviews.

Michael Harris, defending, suggested Phillips had said, "This has got to be some kind of a joke," as he was cautioned by police.

Earlier, the court heard the victim picked out her alleged attacker in an identity parade at Brighton police station.

The jury watched a video showing the victim, accompanied by a translator, identifying Phillips from the line-up of nine men.

Inspector Derek Smith, who was Sussex Police's identification officer at the time, was heard asking if the man who attacked her was in the parade.

She replied: "Number seven", which was Phillips.

Items of clothing were seized by police during a raid on the house Phillips shared with his mother, the court heard.

Mr Harris asked Detective Sergeant Dominic O'Brien, in charge of the case, why these had not been sent for scientific testing.

Mr O'Brien said: "I felt that we had some very strong identification evidence from the complainant.

"Some very strong forensic evidence and some very strong circumstantial evidence, in relation to the telephone, and that was sufficient."

The prosecution wound up its case yesterday and the defence is due to begin on Monday.