A soldier based in Oxfordshire has gone on trial accused of falsely claiming that a Fijian fellow serviceman raped him after returning from a night out.

Terrence McDonald, 22, a private in the Royal Logistic Corps, made the claim against Orisi Vasukiwai while they were based at Bicester.

But Oxford Crown Court heard that forensic tests found no DNA link between the two and that McDonald later withdrew the allegation, saying he was depressed, had been raped before and that "somebody should pay".

Sam Mainds, prosecuting, said that at about 1.25am on March 14 last year McDoanld ran into the barracks' guardroom in a distressed state and claimed that he had been raped by Pte Vasukiwai.

Police were called. Pte Vasukiwai was arrested and denied the allegation, the court heard. But he allegedly admitted coming back drunk from town, becoming involved in an argument with McDonald and throwing a bottle of shower gel at him.

Forensic samples were taken from both men but no DNA link was found.

Mr Mainds said that McDonald was arrested on May 17 on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

However, it is alleged that a couple of hours later, after he had been released on bail, McDonald returned to the police station and requested another interview and admitted that he had not been sexually assaulted.

When asked why he claimed he had, McDonald said he had been raped before, that he was feeling depressed over the death of his father and that "somebody should pay for it", the court heard.

McDonald now says he only withdrew the allegation because he was told to "pull himself together" by a superior, Mr Mainds added.

McDonald denies acts tending or intended to pervert the course of justice between March 13 and May 18 last year, by making false reports that he had been sexually assaulted and raped on March 14.

The case continues.