Accused: Seykou Ballde.

A Guinean man who escaped from the St Julian’s police station after being caught allegedly raping a woman, was yesterday charged in court where it emerged he already had a pending case for beating a prostitute.

Seykou Ballde, 22, stood in the dock looking relaxed with his hands in his pockets, surrounded by three police officers yesterday.

He denied charges of rape, violent indecent assault, resisting arrest and escaping from police custody.

He was denied bail, partly because he committed the alleged crime while on bail on another case, in which he stands charged with beating a prostitute in April last year, resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.

It is alleged the young Guinean had slept with the prostitute but then refused to pay her. When she protested, he beat her up and left.

Mr Ballde was arrested early on Sunday morning after police officers heard the screams of a 23-year-old woman coming from a dimly lit area in St George’s Road, Paceville.

He was taken to the St Julian’s police station but managed to escape on Monday evening after slipping out of loose handcuffs.

He was apprehended again on Wednesday night at 11pm in Qawra, after the police acted on a tip-off.

Mr Ballde, who lives in St Paul’s Bay, pleaded not guilty to a total of 12 charges before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

No request for bail was made and Mr Ballde was remanded in custody.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted. Lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared as legal aid while lawyer Peter Fenech appeared in parte civile for the alleged victim.