CARNAL NATION

A prostitute who says she was raped by a US Navy serviceman at a Sydney brothel has described him as an "animal" in court. Petty officer Timothy Davis, 25, has pleaded not guilty to having sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated by causing the woman actual bodily harm. He has also denied an alternative charge that, with intent to have sexual intercourse, he recklessly inflicted actual bodily harm on her.

When Davis was on shore leave on October 12 last year, he visited a brothel in the inner-city suburb of Potts Point. The woman gave evidence that she had protected, consensual sexual activity with "the customer", who she said had been drinking. But she said he "changed" and became aggressive when she offered alternative services after he could not complete sexual intercourse before his half hour was up. She said he "ripped" off his condom, telling her he had paid for sex and he was going to finish it off "like a real man" and continued for 30 seconds.

"He said, 'You are trying to take my money you whore,' that is what he was saying when he was attacking me," the woman said. She said the customer also ripped off her wig - a ponytail hair piece - as "he thought it was my real hair ... that is how I got away". She said he had pushed her head into the pillow as she struggled, leaving her with scratches and sore ribs.

Crown Prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, told the court that sex workers were entitled to set conditions on their sexual encounters - just like everyone else. Neither the prostitute nor the brothel can be identified for legal reasons. The trial is continuing.