Peter Watton, 37, had served half of a six-year sentence for kidnap and robbery.
He allegedly dragged the 44-year-old woman off a path and into bushes as she ran with her dog.
Watton threatened her with a knife and tied her up with the laces from her trainers.
It was claimed he forced her to have sex with him as he hauled her between three hiding places in the woods in Chester.
“He put her in fear of her life. He subjected her to the most degrading of sexual attacks and treated her as his plaything”Owen Edwards, prosecuting
He allegedly told his victim he had been watching her for two weeks, knew where she lived and would hurt her and her family if she told anyone.
Owen Edwards, prosecuting, said: “He put her in fear of her life. He subjected her to the most degrading of sexual attacks and treated her as his sexual plaything.’’
Police arrested heavily-tattooed Watton after a five-day manhunt across Cheshire.
His alleged victim identified him from a tattoo reading “Pete”, which she spotted on the knuckles of her attacker.
Watton denies eight rapes, two assaults, false imprisonment and possessing of a bladed article at Chester Crown Court.
The trial continues.