A NURSE from Bolton wept as she told a court how a man posing as a policeman smashed his way into her flat and raped her Steven Murphy, 31, of Bromwich Street, Bolton, and later of Seymour Road, Astley Bridge, pleaded 'not guilty' at Bolton Crown Court to charges of rape and of committing another serious sexual offence, against her. The court was told that the 24-year-old nurse had only been living in the flat above a shop in Bury for four weeks when the attack took place.

Susan Klonin, prosecuting, said the situation of the flat - with no other premises nearby occupied at night - meant she could have been living "on a desert island". There was no-one around to hear her screams.

"Someone came for her who knew she was there," Miss Klonin added.

In the early hours of May 5 a man who announced himself as a policeman smashed his way into the flat then raped her.

She fought and scratched him but was unable to get a good look at him. The man was white with collar length black hair, wearing two neck chains and a denim jacket. He had an Irish accent and smelled of drink.

After the attack, the nurse drove to her parents home and told them what had happened.

Miss Klonin said Murphy was a frequent visitor to a repair garage near the flat and must have known the nurse lived alone.

On the evening of the rape Murphy visited the garage and then ae nearby pub. After several drinks he left carrying bottles of Stella Artois beer.

A broken bottle of Stella was found near the flat.

Next day, Murphy hired a car and drove to Blackpool but left his denim coat in the car when he returned it.

Police took samples of his hair and of the blood on the jacket.

The hair samples were compared with four hairs found in the flat and found to be similar in DNA test.

"It was a one to 2000 chance of the hair belonging to anyone else," Miss Klonin said. "Blood on the jacket came from the victim and had only a one to 1700 chance of coming from anyone else."

Murphy said he had 'crashed out' after drinking and slept rough. He had no memory of that evening.

(Case proceeding)

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