AN Ipswich woman was held hostage at a flat in the town and subjected to “sadistic and prolonged” assaults in the days leading up to her alleged murder, a court has heard.

Rosalyn Hunt, 41, was allegedly kept at a flat in Mountbatten Court, Ipswich and whilst there was whipped with a dog chain, had a cheese grater rubbed in her face until it bled and had an electric fan without its protective cover held in her face, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Witnesses also allegedly saw Mrs Hunt’s hair set alight with a cigarette lighter and saw salt being rubbed in her wounds said Patricia Lynch QC prosecuting.

Shortly before her death in August last year Mrs Hunt, who was a long-term alcoholic and was divorced with grown up children, had returned to her flat in Victoria Street, Ipswich where she was allegedly subjected to further violence which resulted in her death, said Miss Lynch.

Before the court are Paul Clarke, 41, of Mountbatten Court, a 16-year-old girl who cannot be named because of her age and 28-year-old John Grimwood of Canham Street, Ipswich.

All three have denied murdering Mrs Hunt between August 1 and 10, 2009.

Clarke and the 16-year-old girl have also denied murdering 43-year-old Des Thorpe on August 10, 2009.

The court heard that his body was found at a flat in Limerick Close, Ipswich.

Miss Lynch claimed that Mr Thorpe was murdered by Clarke and the girl, who was only 15 at the time, so that he couldn’t tell anyone about the alleged murder of Mrs Hunt.

The trial, which is expected to last up to 10 weeks, continues.