A SCHOOLGIRL was dragged into a secluded wood and subjected to a terrifiying late night sex attack, a jury was told.

The drunken and vulnerable 14-year-old was threatened with death as she struggled with her alleged attacker Stephen Ainscow, 22, who pushed his fingers in her mouth in a bid to silence her.

She was rescued after a passing 16-year-old boy heard her shouts and saw Ainscow standing near her as she lay on her back in the mud, screaming and crying.

The boy then went and alerted his stepfather, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The jury was told the girl had been targeted by Ainscow who had been in the pub all afternoon, was fuelled with alcohol and wanted sex.

The defendant, who lived 30 metres away from the scene of the alleged attack, was later arrested and when questioned by police changed his story several times.

Ainscow told officers he "thought he was onto a winner" with the girl, and claimed she had consented to sex but he had not been able to penetrate her. The defendant, then of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, pleads not guilty to rape and attempted rape, last December 4.

Tina Landale, prosecuting, told the court the girl, who was worse the wear for drink, was an easy target for the defendant.

The teenager went to a takeaway after a party and Ainscow also went there. After 11pm, the 14-year-old left her friends and went to a phone box on Burnley Road East. As she went towards the woodland area, she was grabbed from behind and dragged over a low wall, banging her head. Miss Landale said: "There is no dispute sexual activity took place in that location."

The prosecutor said Ainscow had earlier been with friends in The Railway pub nearby and later told police he had had 11 pints of beer and eight bottles of WKD.

Miss Landale alleged he spotted the alleged victim, heard her friends using her name and went home to change into his trainers. He then went back to find her, clearly wanting sex. Ainscow saw the girl again, alone and vulnerable, and struck up a conversation, claiming somebody was waiting for her at the top of the woodland.

Miss Landale claimed Ainscow then followed the girl, grabbed her from behind, dragged her into the woods and forced her to the ground. The girl was terrified, tried to scream and struggled with Ainscow who tried to have sex but was unable to.. He did not give up the attack, demanded the 14-year-old did not look at him and ordered her to turn over. In fear she complied and Ainscow then raped her.

The prosecutor told the court a 16-year-old walking down the path heard the 14 year old's screams. Ainscow seemed shaken he had been spotted and ran off. The youth tried to ring 999, couldn't and went home for help.

Miss Landale said the boy and his father dashed to the scene and found the girl still half naked, screaming and in shock. They covered her with a blanket.

The defendant, who then lived in a flat above the post office, was seen by another witness jumping over a wall. He then ran into a yard at the back of the post office.

The prosecutor said the girl was examined by a doctor and was found to have a series of injuries. Ainscow was spoken to by police on December 5 and lied. On December 8 he was arrested and interviewed.

He lied again but this time admitted he had seen a half-drunk young girl. He claimed he went home and then went back out to have sex with her but she had not wanted to be touched. The defendant went on to change that account, saying he went out thinking he could probably have sex with the alleged victim and was "onto a winner", Miss Landale added. Ainscow alleged he and the girl had gone to the woods. The defendant claimed the alleged victim was perfectly willing, but he couldn't manage it.

Miss Landale said Ainscow told police he had lied because he did not want to be accused of rape. When he was told what the 16-year-old claimed to have seen he changed his account again, saying the 14-year-old had got upset because he had called her a slag. He denied she had screamed..

The prosecutor told the court the 14-year-old later identified the defendant as the man who had attacked and raped her.

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