A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard that a woman, who was allegedly raped and beaten by her ex-boyfriend, was in a “frantic” state when gardai arrived.

The accused, a 29-year-old Mayo man, has pleaded NOT guilty to rape and sexual assault of the woman in Mayo on January 9 and January 10, 2009. He has also denied two charges of assault causing harm to the woman and false imprisonment on the same dates.

A garda told the court yesterday that when he arrived at the scene he could see the accused inside the house. The woman was outside, having climbed out the window, and was in a frantic state and “crying her eyes out.”

He said she told gardai that the accused had “gone mad”.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of nine men and three women.