A MAN accused of raping a Southampton prostitute told jurors they had never had full sex and he had not been violent towards her.

The 35-year-old woman has claimed that after Ivars Balodis told her he did not have the £20 cash she charged for “business”, he grabbed her by the hair, kicked her in the face, put a hand around her throat and pinned her against railings before sexually assaulting her.

But Balodis, 38, of Kent Street, Northam, denies four counts of rape and one of causing actual bodily harm.

He said he only had £5, some coins and a credit card on him and would pay her afterwards.

“I got the impression she wasn’t happy about the money not being paid up front but I understood she was going to do it anyway.”

He told Judge Jane Miller QC they never had full sex and afterwards gave her what cash he had, which amounted to about £10.

“She said it wasn’t enough and asked for more. I said I didn’t have any more and she shouted I would have problems.”

Balodis denied being violent towards her. “We had a good relationship at the beginning.”

Jurors were expected to retire to consider their verdict today.