A strictly Orthodox man has denied raping his ex-wife in a "dungeon" , claiming the woman encouraged him to act out a "rape fantasy".

Denying allegations of kidnap, rape and false imprisonment, he told a court on Wednesday that the woman had insisted on taking part in "rough" sex sessions.

A jury had previously been told that the woman was knocked out with gas, carried down to what she described as a dungeon, in a warehouse in north London, and was bound and raped twice.

The alleged victim claims she was left in the building with no way of escaping.

The defendant denied her version of events, claiming the "dungeon" was in fact a "safe room" where his family could hide in case of persecution.

"We would have enough survival paraphernalia to keep us alive for a certain amount of time to be able to keep us in contact with friendly elements," he said.

The man claimed his ex-wife had endured a difficult childhood. "I don't want to be bad about her but she came with lots of baggage," he said, before claiming she had a history of post-natal depression following the birth of each of their children.

He disputed the complainant's allegation that they had not had sex since their divorce around six years ago, and said they had continued to sleep together in a double bed at the warehouse.

The man described in detail the sexual demands of his ex-wife and claimed she had insisted on the couple acting out rape fantasies.

"At first when we got married she was normal, but then she became insatiable and she always wanted more and she always wanted new things. You couldn't please her," he added.

On the day the rape is said to have taken place, the defendant told the court the couple had became engaged in a "screaming match" about his unwillingness to give the woman a get.

He claimed the complainant attempted to use a mace spray on him before he subdued her, and, with the assistance of another man - who is also on trial - helped the complainant to the office and put her on the bed.

When the second defendant left the warehouse, the man said he took the woman into the "safe room" and they had consensual sex.

He told the court his ex-wife had demanded to be tied up and had asked him to tear off her clothes as part of a rape fantasy role-play.

She allegedly implored him: "Don't kill me, you can have me, just let me live."

The defendant claimed he had later left, telling the woman how to exit the room.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies kidnap, false imprisonment and two counts of rape, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, north-east London.

His ex-wife has left Britain and is now living in Israel. The co-defendant denies aiding and abetting the man.

The trial continues.