A terrified woman was left trussed up after a burglar raided her home - and she was not found for three days, a jury has heard.

The 67-year-old victim - who lived near Maidstone - was sexually assaulted and left bound after receiving rape and death threats.

She was only discovered after her concerned partner - who was away - called police when his calls went unanswered.

Now a 28-year-old man is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court accused of sexually assaulting her, keeping her prisoner as well as two other burglaries.

Billy Williams, of Smarden Road, Ashford, has denied the charges.

Prosecutor Nina Ellin said the burglaries took place on Easter Sunday this year, less than a mile apart.

In the second attack, the victim had been in her garden and decided to cook a roast dinner and had received a text message at 5.07pm from her partner who was away.

"She thought he looked dodgy but gave him the benefit of the doubt..."

After replying and calling her mother, she went upstairs but as she returned she saw the back of a man in her garden.

Ms Ellin said: "He had a backpack and was wearing a hood and she was alarmed because her garden gate had been locked.

"She decided to go into the kitchen to get her mobile phone, took it to the patio doors and took a picture of his face."

Ms Ellin said the man stepped back "gesturing" when he saw the homeowner, saying: "It's OK. It's OK. I'm out riding my bike and I lost my water bottle. I just want some water, that's all."

"She thought he looked dodgy but gave him the benefit of the doubt. She told him to stand outside the gate and she would get him a bottle of water and went to the outhouse to get one."

Ms Ellin said: "She took it to him and then she walked back to her front door wondering if she should report his conduct.

"But as soon as she got to her door, he was behind her and put his hand over her mouth and a chisel to her neck."

The burglar, wearing thick motorbike gloves, then asked: "Where's the money? Where are the valuables?"

The prosecutor added that the victim was then put through an ordeal lasting two hours, being moved from room to room as drawers and cupboards were emptied

"He would say to her: 'Do you want me to kill you? Do you want me to rape you?' At one point he picked up a knife and put it to her cheek asking if she wanted to be cut."

"Do you want me to kill you? Do you want me to rape you?"

Ms Ellin alleged: "He continued to take her up and down the stairs holding her hair, staying behind her at all times."

The prosecution claim that at one point he pushed his victim onto the bed and sexually assaulted her saying: "Do you want to be raped?"

The raider then dropped a heavy chest of drawers on his victim to pin her to the ground.

After rifling through every room, he tied her to a chair with cable wire leaving her frightened and hurting, before pouring two bottles of spirits over her head - she feared he was going to set her alight, said the prosecutor.

The raider then stole small items of jewellery, a laptop, camera and phone before fleeing, after putting a fleece and a cat mat over his victim.

Ms Ellin added: "He left her, tied to a chair and soaking wet. The door was open and she was getting cold. She saw a knife but fell over and couldn't move."

She was found three days later "in considerable pain from her traumatic and terrifying ordeal" and taken to hospital, the jury heard.

Williams was arrested after police traced his phone to nearby masts - but he denied being there and blamed another man.

The trial continues.