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A British backpacker who was allegedly held hostage, raped and beaten at the hands of her ex-boyfriend had walked into a petrol station in a 'zombie-like state' shortly before she was rescued.
Police allege the 22-year-old woman, from Liverpool, in England, was 'raped four times, bashed and held captive' by the man, also aged 22, for two months.
A friend of the tourist described how the alleged attacker became 'clingy' after 'latching onto the first single girl he met' and changed his Facebook relationship to 'married' shortly after they started dating.
On Sunday, service station manager Beverley Page alerted police when the alleged victim wandered into the store with black eyes and marks on her throat.
The young woman told Ms Page she was unable to pay for the fuel she had already put into the car.
Ms Page told Daily Mail Australia the backpacker was in a 'state of shock when she came in, almost zombie like.
'Then she walked in, wearing a black summer dress and said she couldn't pay for the fuel. Tears were running down her face,' she said.
'But what struck me were her black eyes. She looked bad. She was nervous and shaking and I thought her behaviour was because she couldn't pay for the fuel.
'She was like a person in a trance. I was very concerned about her.'