A woman was terrified when a stranger grabbed her from behind late at night and tried to force her into a park, a jury was told.

Farid Boudra, 34, of Magdalen Road, east Oxford, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday and denied kidnapping Alison Eadie, 20, in Cowley Road on June 12.

Basil Hillman, prosecuting, said Miss Eadie was walking home at 1.25am and as she crossed the road near the Tesco store, she realised a man was following her.

When he said "hello" she ignored him and walked on but then felt a hand on her shoulder and the man said: "Come with me." He put his arm round her and tightened his grip. Although she resisted, the court heard, Miss Eadie was then helpless in a headlock as she was pulled across the road towards a park.

"She was able to grab hold of part of a car, so her assailant could not control her.

"She fell to the ground and he lost his grip and ran off," said Mr Hillman.

A man who saw part of the incident from a nearby shop ran to help her and police then arrived. A month after her ordeal Miss Eadie identified Boudra as her attacker. Miss Eadie told the jury that although she was attacked from behind and held in a headlock, she saw her attacker's face for five seconds and was able to give police a full description of him.

Speaking from the witness box, Boudra said he was not the kidnapper and had been wrongly identified.

The jury retires today to consider a verdict.

Story date: Friday 05 November

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