A WOMAN broke down in tears as she told a court yesterday how she was allegedly sexually abused by an award-winning Neighbourhood Watch leader.

Newport crown court was told that the woman screamed in pain during one alleged attack, and that former Gaer Neighbourhood Watch leader Charles Anthony Lane (pictured) used a dog during one of the sickening attacks he is alleged to have committed during the early 1970s.

The woman wept as she told the court: "I thought my life was over...I was in a living hell and there was nothing I could do about him."

Lane, 56, from Elan Court, Bettws, a former lance-corporal in the South Wales Borderers who served with the British Army in Aden and Northern Ireland, denies 24 sex and violence charges against women and young girls dating from 1970 to July 22 this year.

He denies six counts of rape, four counts of committing indecency with children; four counts of indecent assault; one count of causing or encouraging the prostitution of a girl under the age of 16; one count of procuring a woman to have sex with himself and others by using threats or intimidation; one count of abducting a 15-year-old girl; one count of attempted rape; four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; one count of grievous bodily harm and one count of witness intimidation.

Prosecutor Martyn Kelly said Lane, known locally as Tony, advertised his home for "swinging couples" through a contact magazine. Mr Kelly said some women were made to dress up by Lane, provocatively in stockings and suspenders, and abused while he either joined in with the sexual acts or would just watch.

John Jenkins, QC, defending, said Lane denied the allegation of the assault with the dog and that the defendant claimed he had walked in and caught the woman in the act with the animal. Mr Jenkins said one of the women who was making the allegations may be "a fantasiser and an actress". The case continues.