A 17-year-old youth indecently assaulted and attempted to rape a girl at a New Year's Eve party before being disturbed, a court heard.

Oxford Crown Court was told how the 27-year-old victim came across her attacker lying on a grass verge, in a village near Abingdon, and mistook him for her boyfriend.

Graham Moore, prosecuting, said the teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, tried to rape her and told her he would kill her if she resisted.

Mr Moore said the youth then dragged the woman across the road into garages, told her he had a knife and also threatened to shoot her. He added that the father of the defendant's friend came across the pair and heard muffled cries of 'help me', before shouting at the teenager to 'let her go'.

The woman struggled free and ran away.

The youth, who told the father she had offered him 20 for sex, was arrested the following day. He denies two counts of attempted rape and a charge of indecent assault. The case continues.