A woman desperately dialled 999 as she was being raped in the middle of Whitehaven, a jury heard.

The alleged victim was subjected to sexual attacks by two men in the town's St Nicholas' Gardens on June 29 last year just hours after meeting them, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

Stuart Milne, 37, and Terry Parry, 30, both deny rape.

Milne has also pleaded not guilty to a further sexual assault accusation.

The trial of both men began as barrister Andrew Ford outlined the prosecution case to a jury of seven women and five men.

Mr Ford confirmed that the woman did not know either man before their paths crossed outside a Whitehaven pub that night.

Having accepted several drinks from the men, she was allegedly kissed by Milne in the street.

"It was the beginning of quite an ordeal for her, we say," said Mr Ford.

He told the court the woman, who can not be named for legal reasons, was then "pulled" into the walled St Nicholas' Garden area.

"Mr Milne had sex with her against her will," the prosecutor said.

"A feature of the case is that she was holding her phone. She didn't consent to sex and she rang the police during the act.

"You cannot decipher everything that is said, but it is possible to hear her clearly saying 'get off, get off us.'"

Mr Ford added: "Whether the speech is clear or not, the prosecution point to the observation that she rang the police during it.”

It was while on the floor, trying to get up, that she was then allegedly raped by Parry. At this point Milne was accused of carrying out the other sexual offence.

"It is a distinctly unpleasant physical scene," said Mr Ford.

The woman reported the matter to police and was later found to be injured. Milne and Parry, both of separate addresses at Bow Fell Road, Whitehaven, were each interviewed twice by police.

They flatly denied committed criminal acts and insisted the woman consented at all times.

Mr Ford provided a flavour of Parry's comments to the jury, saying: "He said the whole episode was consensual, and said he would not have allowed it to develop against her will."