A MAN accused of raping a woman has told a jury that she willingly went to his caravan in Bury to spend the night.

Giving evidence in his own defence at Bolton Crown Court 27-year-old Connor Hamer said he and friend visited the woman's home in Lancashire on June 3 last year because she owed him £10,000.

Hamer, of Wash Lane Terrace, Bury, said he wanted the cash so he could pay back his father the money he had been given to buy his caravan.

But a jury heard how a row broke out over messages he saw on the woman's phone and she ran off.

"She starts off running up the driveway screaming 'help'," said Hamer.

"I panicked and thought, 'what's the neighbours going to think'."

He said that the woman, who was wearing sliders on her feet, slipped and fell and he admitted grabbing her and dragging her back into the house where the row continued.

Hamer told the court that he had slapped her and the court was previously told that he has pleaded guilty to assault.

"It was not nice of me to do that. I am ashamed of what I have done," he said.

Hamer told the jury he gave some of the woman's possessions, including handbags and a Rolex watch, to his friend to take away until she paid him the money he wanted.

And then he told how she drove him in her car back to his caravan in Bury, stopping on the way for petrol and food.

He stated that, inside the caravan, they talked.

"I'm feeling bad because of the way things had gone at the house. I cuddled and apologised to her," he said, adding that they then had consensual sex twice.

"Did you rape her?" asked Kathryn Johnson, defending.

"No," replied Hamer.

The next day Hamer and the woman returned to her home where he claims they had a bath and again had consensual sex but she claims he raped her.

He was arrested the following day after a friend of the woman called police.

Hamer denies three counts of rape, kidnap and making threats to kill.

The trial continues.