JURORS in the trial of an Ipswich man accused of raping a woman in one of the town's parks nearly 20 years ago have been hearing evidence from a forensic scientist.

IPSWICH: Jurors in the trial of an Ipswich man accused of raping a woman in one of the town's parks nearly 20 years ago have been hearing evidence from a forensic scientist.

Frank Gore told Ipswich Crown Court that following the alleged rape in 1990 items of the woman's clothing and swabs from different parts of her body had been submitted to his laboratory for examination.

He explained to the jury how forensic scientists subjected the items to a number of tests to enable them to detect the presence of blood and semen and to obtain DNA profiles.

Before the court is Phil Collins, 50, of Dickens Road, Ipswich, who has denied raping a 17-year-old woman in January 1990. He has also denied two offences each of indecent assault and buggery on the woman during the alleged attack.

It has been alleged that the woman, who is now 37, was grabbed by a masked man armed with a knife as she walked through Gippeswyk Park and was raped and sexually assaulted behind a hut.

The court has heard that Collins was one of a number of people questioned by police at the time and had denied any knowledge of it and claimed to have an alibi.

However, police officers carried out a “cold case” review of the alleged attack and arrested Collins last year.

Questioned by defence counsel Martyn Levett, Mr Gore said it was possible that bodily fluids containing DNA could have been transferred on to the alleged rape victim from her flatmate by, for example, sharing towels or from another friend who had taught her to drive.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues today.