An alleged German rapist has been arrested in Marbella after his face was secretly filmed by his victim at the beginning of her terrifying assault.

The suspect, who already had a police record in Spain, was arrested just hours before he was due to board a flight back to Germany after allegedly packing his bags to flee the country.

The alleged attack took place on June 24 at a holiday apartment in Estepona, but details have only just been shared by police.

According to the victim, a woman in her 20s, she had met the suspect and two of his friends before accepting an invitation to have dinner at the apartment where they were staying.

However, she immediately became alarmed when the suspect locked the apartment door from the inside.

A struggle broke out, during which the woman managed to record the man’s face on her mobile phone – footage that later proved crucial in identifying him.

The victim told police she tried to escape and even attempted to shout for help through a window, but the suspect allegedly shut it before she could alert anyone.

She claims he then restrained her, dragged her to a bed and raped her.

The woman continued resisting until she was able to break free and flee the apartment, screaming for help.

A security guard at the residential complex heard her cries and alerted the Policia Nacional, but by the time officers arrived the suspect and his friends had already fled.

Using the video captured by the victim, investigators were able to identify the suspect, who was already known to police due to previous offences in Spain.

He was eventually tracked down at a property in Marbella and arrested just three hours before he was due to catch a flight back to Germany.

A judge has ordered the suspect to remain in custody pending trial, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence and the high risk of him fleeing the country.