A THIRTY-five-year-old Ipswich man raped a prostitute after a dispute about the amount of money he owed her, a court has been told.

A THIRTY-five-year-old Ipswich man raped a prostitute after a dispute about the amount of money he owed her, a court has been told.

The jury in the trial of Jamie Garnham heard that he had forced himself on the woman in an alleyway.

When he was arrested by police officers he allegedly said: “How can it be rape? She's a prostitute.”

Garnham, of Shakespeare Road, Ipswich, admits having sex with the prostitute but said it was consensual.

Yesterday at Ipswich Crown Court Joanne Eley, prosecuting, said: “She was approached by Mr Garnham asking if he could have some business. He told her his name was Paul. She told him her prices.”

Ms Eley said Garnham, who denies rape, asked the sex worker to perform a sex act on him and the pair then went to an alleyway.

She added: “There was a dispute about money. He'd given her £15, it was £5 short.

“He snatched the money back from her. At that point he became physical. He put his hand over her mouth. Eventually she ended up on the floor.”

Ms Eley said Garnham then raped the woman, who tried to use her mobile phone to dial 999 but was unable to do so, and started shouting “help, help, I'm being raped.”

Garnham, who had been drinking in the evening, was then arrested. He told officers the woman consented and gave him no indication she wanted him to stop.

The trial continues.