Woman tells jury she was attacked outside village pub (From Worcester News)

Teenager Matthew Todhunter is accused of sexually assaulting woman and child in Abberley

4:45pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News

A WOMAN has told a jury she became the victim of a sex attack after she left a village pub to have a cigarette.

She claimed teenager Matthew Todhunter came out of the bar at the Manor Arms in Abberley, put his arms round her and then put a hand down the front of her trousers.

She said he then put a hand up her top and touched her breasts before exposing himself and trying to get her to perform a sex act on him.

Todhunter, aged 18, who had lived with his father in Abberley but now lives in Hensford Road, Heath Hayes, Cannock, denies attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault on the woman.

He also pleads not guilty at Worcester Crown Court to sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl on the same night.

Prosecutor Paul Whitfield said "clear complaints" were made by the woman and the child to police but Todhunter insisted the allegations were "malicious".

Giving evidence, the woman said she went to the pub on March 3 last year. When Todhunter came in he was "in good spirits" and she thought he had had alcohol, although he didn't normally drink.

"He was a bit loud and a bit more bouncy than he normally is," she said. "We all hung around having a giggle before I went out for a cigarette."

Todhunter and a friend came out to the smoking area too. But as she finished her cigarette she heard his waterproof coat rustling behind her.

"He put his arm around me and tried to kiss me," she said. "I couldn't get away, he wouldn't let me go. I was pushed up against him and he put his free hand down my trousers."

The woman said he kept saying "come on, come on" as he touched her chest. She managed to break free and sit down on a bench.

But he then approached her with his trousers undone and she had to put both hands up to protect her face.

Eventually she managed to roll over the arm of the bench and escape back into the pub.

The girl told the jury Todhunter jumped on her after asking for a piggyback on the way back from the pub and then put his hand inside her bra.

The girl said Todhunter jumped on her back as they walked across a field. She thought he was putting his hands in front of her to balance himself but he reached inside her clothes and touched her breast, she told Worcester Crown Court. She stood up quickly and he jumped off, she said.

The girl, who is under 16 was giving evidence through video link.

The trial continues.