A teenager was “paralysed with fear” while she was allegedly being raped by a former Felixstowe man more than a decade ago, a court has heard.

The 16-year-old accepted an invitation to go to James Heathcote’s house in Parkeston Road to watch a horror movie and was sitting on the edge of his bed when he allegedly started trying to undress her within five minutes of the film starting, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

She told him: “I don’t want to do anything like that” several times but Heathcote allegedly tried to unbutton her top while she was holding on to it, said Joanne Eley, prosecuting.

She did it back up again but Heathcote allegedly persisted in the same way for about 20 minutes until she allegedly stopped fighting back.

“He laid her back on the bed and knowing what was going to happen she felt paralysed with fear,”said Miss Eley.

“She just felt she couldn’t move or speak.”

Heathcote allegedly pulled off her jeans and underwear and had sex with her.

During the alleged incident he tried to kiss her neck and face but she turned her face to the wall, claimed Miss Eley.

After 20 to 30 minutes Heathcote allegedly told the teenager he had rugby practice and she went home.

She didn’t make a complaint at the time because she was worried people might think what happened was her fault for putting herself in that situation, said Miss Eley.

Two weeks later Heathcote allegedly called her and apologised and asked if she would meet up with him again but she had hung up.

Heathcote, 29, of Parkeston Road, Felixstowe, has denied raping the teenager between September 1, 2006, and October 31 the same year.

The court heard that the woman contacted the police in March 2015 and during an interview with police Heathcote denied knowing her or watching a film with her at his home.

The court heard that the teenager and Heathcote, who was around 17 at the time, had allegedly met on a bus and he had told her his telephone number.

She texted him and they met at a recreation ground in Felixstowe a couple of times before he allegedly invited her back to his house to watch a horror film.

The trial continues.