A WOMAN was raped at knifepoint in her own home by an intruder in an attack which continued over four hours, a court heard.

Kamen Lawrence, of no fixed address, who has been charged with rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday for the opening of his trial.

The 32-year-old has denied all charges.

Yesterday, the jury was told Lawrence raped and imprisoned a woman in her own home on April 8, 2020.

At about 8pm, the victim was startled by Lawrence who entered her home through an unlocked kitchen door with the intention of taking her by surprise, the court heard.

He armed himself with a kitchen knife and wrapped jogging bottoms, found on her washing line, around his face to try to obscure his identity.

Wayne Cleaver, prosecuting, told the court: “Rigid with fear, the victim complied with his demands. “He told her to ‘Sit down and shut up or I will stab you’.”

Lawrence then raped her for hours and made her shower multiple times, the court heard.

Mr Cleaver said Lawrence then drank an excess amount of vodka from the victim’s home.

When he was drinking, she managed to go into the kitchen and ran shoeless out of the unlocked door to a nearby shop to raise the alarm.

The police were called, and on their arrival the victim told officers to search her home, Mr Cleaver said.

Officers then found Lawrence collapsed naked on her sofa and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of rape.

Mr Cleaver said the woman was traumatised by the “extremely chilling” incident.

He added: “She found an intruder in her house, and he armed himself with a knife and over the course of four hours he sexually assaulted her and held her captive.

“When she did manage to escape, she fled to a nearby pizza shop where she raised the alarm. She was traumatised.”

  •  The trial continues.