Antoni Imiela denies nine counts of rape against women and girls

Pc Malcolm Smithers said Antoni Imiela made the remark at Folkestone police station an hour after his arrest.

Mr Imiela, 49, from Appledore, Kent, denies nine counts of rape in Surrey, west London, Kent and Hertfordshire during 2001 and 2002.

He also denies the kidnap, attempted rape and indecent assault of a 10-year-old girl in Birmingham.

'Possibility of promotion'

The court heard he was arrested by traffic police on 2 December 2002 on the coast-bound carriageway of the M20 and taken to Folkestone.

During the journey he asked police, "Have you told my wife?"

Once at the station, Pc Smithers accompanied Mr Imiela out into the exercise yard, as he wanted to have a cigarette.

He told the court how the defendant mentioned there had been the "possibility of promotion" in his work on the railways, but had then added, "Well, that's all out the window then."

'Accurate' account

The police officer said he made a note of the comments an hour or so later, asking Mr Imiela to sign them later that day to confirm that it was a "true and accurate" account of what was said.

But Simon Russell-Flint QC, defending, questioned Pc Smithers about the moment he asked Mr Imiela to sign the note.

"You didn't do that at the very earliest opportunity, did you?" he said.

Mr Russell-Flint continued: "What I am going to suggest is what he did say was that 'I'd never see the light of day for this'. A small difference but perhaps important."

The officer replied: "That's a small difference and the notes I have made are to the best of my recollection."

Condoms in guttering

It was revealed in court that during a search of Mr Imiela at the police station, the defendant told an officer "you'd better have this", before handing over a lock knife with a two-inch blade.

He was then interviewed over the next four days, replying "no comment" to each of the questions put to him.

Police officers told Maidstone Crown Court that three condoms were found hidden in a plastic glove in a shed during a search of Mr Imiela's house in Appledore.

Another two condoms were found concealed in guttering in the garage, and one was found in the defendant's wallet shortly after his arrest.

It was also revealed that an initial DNA sample taken from Mr Imiela in November had matched the genetic profile taken following the first attack on a 10-year-old girl in Ashford.

The case continues.