A MAN has pleaded guilty to raping a teenage woman in a park in Southampton earlier this year.

Rosario Reis, 27, of St Mary’s Street, Southampton, was on trial for the February 19 rape at Southampton Crown Court, which started yesterday.

But this morning, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape before witnesses were due to give evidence.

Yesterday, the court heard how Reis raped his victim in bushes in the park at around 7am, just after sunrise, as members of the public walked past.

One passerby saw Reis' victim mouth 'help me' so she called the police, who arrested him at a nearby coach station.

In a video recorded with police and shown to the jury, the woman said: "I felt scared.

"I remember telling him that I didn’t understand what was happening and telling him to stop. He kept saying ‘yes, yes, yes'.”

Reis was also accused of two counts of assault by penetration, sexual assault and attempted rape and these will lie on file.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, with a sentencing date set for September 4.