A MORECAMBE man has appeared in court accused of raping a teenager in revenge for a sex attack on a member of his family. But Stephen Tyson, 39, Carleton Street, picked on the wrong 'victim' after forcing his way into her flat wearing a balaclava. A jury at Preston Crown Court heard that Tyson entered the terrified 18-year-old's flat in the mistaken belief that she was the girlfriend of a man who had raped a relative.

That man lived in the flat above and, according to prosecutor, Richard Haworth, Tyson had been "sadly mistaken."

Father of three, Tyson, denies raping the teenager and making threats to kill. He claims he had gone to the flat and was wearing a balaclava to "put the frighteners" on the man.

The incident happened on June 7 as the teenager got ready for work. She claims a man climbed in through her window wearing a balaclava and attacked her.

The court heard that the victim went to a work colleague's house after the rape "crying and shaking."

Police began inquiries and later that day stopped a white coloured car as it drove past the flat. Tyson was driving the car and was seen trying to hide an envelope which contained a picture of a man wearing a balaclava and carrying a weapon. It was addressed to the man who lived above the teenager and had the word "deceased" written after his name.

He was arrested and when police searched his son's house they found a balaclava and jumper identical to that worn by the teenager's attacker.

Mr Howarth told the jury: "The prosecution say he was carrying out a revenge attack on someone he believed to be the girlfriend of this man."

Giving evidence, Tyson, denied the 'revenge rape' but admitted he had been devastated when he learnt that his relative had been raped. He was told the name and address of the attacker and wearing a balaclava went to put "the frighteners" on the man. He threw stones up at his window but when he did not get a response he drove off in his car.

When asked if he climbed into the teenager's flat he said: "Never, not at any stage. I didn't have a clue who lived there. I knew this man lived in the middle floor flat and I wasn't interested in anyone else."

He added: "I went there because I did not want him to sleep. I wanted him to be terrified."

The case is proceeding.

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