A MAN accused of trying to rape an 11-year-old girl previously sexually assaulted a boy in a park, a court heard.

Joshua Beardmore was cautioned in 2005 after he exposed himself to a boy, aged under 13, and inappropriately touched him.

Beardmore is now on trial for allegedly attacking a girl in an alleyway near the Good Rest Tavern, in Barker Street, Worcester, in May.

Worcester Crown Court heard how the 25-year-old threatened to cut himself with a knife after he was apprehended by police.

PC Daniel Young stated that Beardmore, of Glenthorne Avenue, Worcester, said 'rape, what the hell, no, no, what's going on?' when he was arrested.

Beardmore denies attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration.

In a written statement read out in court yesterday, PC Young said the suspect became agitated following his arrest.

He added: "I was concerned by his change in demeanour. I placed him in handcuffs and escorted him into the kitchen.

"He said 'you try and do a good thing and this happens'. He said 'I should end it all now'."

The defendant then grabbed a kitchen knife and tried to cut his left wrist, although the officer managed to restrain him, the court heard.

Beardmore targeted the 11-year-old girl while walking her back to her house, after she had visited his partner's children, according to the prosecution.

DC Alistair Mulcaster said Beardmore answered no comment to most of the questions in his police interview.

The detective constable showed the jury mud-covered clothes, belonging to the girl and the defendant, in court yesterday.

In the police interview, DC Mulcaster questioned the suspect on why his clothes were muddy.

He told police he had worn the same tracksuit for three days and had been playing with his partner's children in the garden.

DC Mulcaster said Beardmore also spoke to police about his medication for psychosis and ADHD, and about his criminal past.

Speaking about his caution from 2005, the defendant told officers he was 'messed up' as he had been molested himself.

He also addressed a kidnapping conviction, from 2014, by stating that he was actually trying to rob the female victim.

In the police interview, the defendant said the girl swore at him while he was escorting her home, prompting him to walk away from her.

Beardmore added that the pair then reunited at the Co-Op and went into the shop together, the court heard.

The jury has gone out.