A UK man who has been described as a "vampire fetishist" allegedly carved a cross in his chest and forced a woman to suck his blood, a court has heard.

Luke McCarthy, 28, from Southend, Essex has faced London’s Southwark crown court accused of raping two women between 2009 and 2013.

Prosecutor David Harounoff said McCarthy kept a dog collar and cage in his bedroom which he allegedly used to abuse and humiliate his victims, The Sun reports.

A jury heard how the 28-year-old allegedly used a razor to cut his chest and forced one of his victims to drink his blood before putting some in a bottle of vodka to keep it fresh.

In an interview with police the woman said McCarthy allegedly made a cut on her leg and sucked her blood.

Mr Harounoff said the women, who allegedly made repeated trips to McCarth's home, said she was handcuffed and had her head put in a cage on at least one occasion after being punched in the face.

The court heard how during the alleged rape McCarthy demanded his victim call him "master".

The prosecutor also told the jury McCarthy hid his vampire fetish from the rest of the world.

"He switches completely from being this terrifying person to being a really nice guy," one of the alleged victims told police.

McCarthy, who has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape, told police during an interview: "It was just how we were sexually. She did want to experiment”.

"She didn’t react in a negative way or say or give any indication that she didn’t want it to happen. It was more like an impulsive thing,” the newspaper quotes McCarthy as telling police.

His second alleged victim, who he dated for three years, frequented the same London fetish club called Club AntiChrist the accused visited.