A father-of-three accused of raping a student nurse more than 20 years ago today admitted being a promiscuous teenager but denied ever forcing a woman to have sex.

Lee Martin, 40, who was 18 at the time of the alleged rape, told a jury at Leeds Crown Court he had no recollection where he was on the date of the offence, May 14, 1988.

The prosecution alleges Martin dragged the 20-year-old victim into bushes in the grounds of nurses’ accommodation in Little Horton Lane, opposite St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, pushed her to the ground, said he was armed with a knife and threatened to kill her, and calmly raped her before running off.

The court has heard Martin, of Averingcliffe Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, was arrested last year after new DNA techniques linked him to a semen sample found at the time of the rape.

Martin, who has pleaded not guilty to rape, told the jury that at the time of the offence he would go out drinking in Bradford city centre with friends on Friday and Saturday nights.

He said that he did not set out to have sex with women on the nights out, but more often than not he ended up doing so.

He said his mother would not allow him to take girls back to his house and on occasions he would have sex in public places like parks. Asked by his barrister, Guy Kearl QC, if he would describe himself as promiscuous at the time, he replied: “I’m afraid so, yes.”

Martin said he could not recall ever having sex in the hospital grounds.

He insisted he had always had sex with consent and denied having sex with the alleged victim.

He said: “I didn’t actually know her. I can’t remember what I did that night. I wish I could so much.”

Cross-examined by prosecutor Jamie Hill QC, Martin said he had been shown the victim’s photograph and did not recall her. He insisted he had never forced himself on any woman. Asked by Mr Hill if the alleged victim had consented to sex with him in the bushes and then cried rape, Martin said he would have to ask her.

“It’s an episode in my life I can’t remember because it’s so long ago,” Martin said. But he added: “I never raped anybody.”

Martin said he respected women and they had a right to say no. He said rape was a cowardly and disgusting offence.

He added: “Just because I don’t remember does not mean I raped her.”

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict tomorrow.