Marriott's Way attack: Jury told victim feared for her life

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was talking to a friend on her phone as she walked along Marriott's Way, near Barker Street in Norwich, in broad daylight.

Marriott's Way, Norwich (Image: Newsquest) Norwich Crown Court heard as she did so Derry Bates approached from behind and "attacked her".

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said the 44-year-old "punched her in the face a number of times" causing her to fall to the ground before he "dragged her into the woods, pulled down her trousers and her underwear".

Miss O'Donovan said the woman screamed out during the ordeal and had offered both her phone and her bag but he refused to take them.

She said the woman "thought she was going to be raped because he pulled down her trousers".

Miss O'Donovan said the woman was to tell police in her interview: "I then began to think I would be killed".

But following the incident, which happened at about 1.30pm on May 24 this year, the woman's screams were heard. 

The jury of seven men and five women heard two men who had been in the Barker Street area ran to the scene after hearing the commotion.

Bates told them that his girlfriend was "being a slag".

But the woman, who was in the floor with her trousers and underwear around her ankles, told them he was not her boyfriend and she had a husband and police were called.

Bates, of no fixed address, has gone on trial having denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He also denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two offences of committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Opening the crown's case on Tuesday, Miss O'Donovan said having attacked the woman, dragged her into the woods and pulled down her trousers he had "intended to carry out a sex attack" and "did try to cause her really serious harm".

The prosecutor said he had "wanted to cause her really serious harm".

Bates, who did not appear in court on Tuesday but was represented by Andrew Oliver, has denied all charges.

The trial continues.