A CHARITY worker told a court how a man attempted to rape her before throwing her out of his car.

Christopher Johnson, 45, of Clairville Road, Middlesbrough, is alleged to have offered the woman a lift home from a nightclub after she became seperated from her friends, but instead took her to a lay-by and attempted to rape her before stealing her mobile phone and £45.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 29-year-old lost her friends at Top Deck nightclub in Redcar on August 17 last year, and told Mr Johnson, who she met outside, that she needed to get home.

He offered her a lift, which she accepted.

Deborah Sherwin, prosecuting, said that instead of taking her home he drove to an isolated lay-by, reclined her seat and attempted to rape her.

Giving evidence behind a screen, the victim said: “He said to me: ‘I’m going to have sex with you.’ I said: ‘You do not do this to me, it wasn’t happening to me.’

“I then tried to push him off me. In doing so I punched him in his face.”

Following the struggle, Ms Sherwin said that Mr Johnson took the victim’s mobile phone off her and pushed her out of his car before driving off.

Mr Johnson denies attempted rape, assault by penetration and theft.

The trial continues.