A man accused of raping two women said the offences "didn't happen" and following his first arrest described the panic he felt at "having to deal with another woman's lies".

Ryan Hase, 29, has gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of rape and assault by penetration against one of the women, between March 2011, and May  2011.

Hase, of Bentley Way, near Mile Cros Lane, Norwich is also alleged to have twice raped another woman, between January and December 2015.

Neither of the women can be named for legal reasons.

Giving evidence on Monday (June 19) about the first allegation of rape Hase told defence barrister Jonathan Goodman "it didn't happen".

He said the first thing he knew about any allegation of rape was after police officers came to speak to him.

When he was told about the allegations Hase said he was in a "panic".

Mr Goodman asked him what he was panicking about.

Hase said: "Panicking that I was in a police station having to deal with another woman's lies against me".

He said he "couldn't really process it".

Hase said: "I didn't want to believe what I was hearing straight away but afterwards it was just bewilderment".

He said he did not know why someone "would want to do this to me".

Mr Goodman asked if he sexually assaulted the complainant.

He said: "No, I didn't".

In terms of the second complainant Mr Goodman asked Hase whether he had "forced her to have sex by pushing her onto the bed and raping her".

Mr Goodman asked: "Did that happen?"

Hase replied: "No".

The defendant was also asked whether, in an allegation of a second offence against the complainant, he had held her by the back of her neck and raped her.

Hase said: "No."

Hase denies three charges of rape and one of assault by penetration.

The trial continues.