A MAN charged with attacking a woman to the danger of her life in Port Glasgow 'hammered' the alleged victim, a jury has been told.

Nathan McKenzie tried to have sex with the woman without her consent and compressed her throat with his hands until she lost consciousness, it is claimed.

She ran out into the street and screamed ‘screamed’ at strangers to call the police after the alleged attack, Greenock Sheriff Court heard.

McKenzie, 20, is said to have engaged in an abusive course of conduct against her during a period of time spanning four months between November 15, 2021 and February 1, 2022.

The woman told Greenock Sheriff Court that she was left with ‘marks’ on her neck after McKenzie ‘choked’ and ‘strangled’ her.

She denied that they were the result of the accused having to restrain her after she had lashed out at him.

The woman was asked about an altercation between herself and McKenzie outside the Green Oak bar which had prompted a passer by to contact police.

Defence advocate Andrew Murphy put it to her: “Is it the case that you were being taken home because you were becoming a degree of uncontrollable?”

The alleged victim replied: “No, I didn’t want to go home with him.

“I asked the police to take me home.”

A woman, who encountered the complainer on a Port Glasgow residential street at around 11:45pm on December 23, 2021, told the court: “A girl came running up the street and she asked us to phone the police.

“She had no top on and no shoes. All she had on were her jeans – they were burst open.

“I had a scarf in my car and I wrapped it around her.

“She was panicky. She just wanted me to phone the police quickly.”

Greenock Telegraph:

Another witness told the court that he saw the 'distressed' complainer ‘screaming and shouting’ in the street, but that he could not say for sure if she was intoxicated.

He added: “She said kids were in the house and she couldn’t get in to get them.

“She was very upset.”

A forensic biologist told jurors that clothing seized from the complainer was analysed following this incident, including a torn bra and t-shirt, underwear and a pair of jeans.

Their tests concluded that ‘extensive’ damage to the bra and t-shirt was sustained recently and that it was caused by pulling.

DNA from both McKenzie and the woman were found on the items.

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McKenzie is also alleged to have uttered derogatory remarks, damaged windows, demanded entry to the alleged victim's home, taken mobile phones from her possession and made violent threats.

The charge against him alleges that he punched her on the body, forcibly removed her clothing, bit her and pushed her head causing it to strike the floor.

He faces further charges of resisting or obstructing police officers in execution of their duty on January 25, 2022 by struggling with them and attempting to flee, and breaching bail conditions which ordered him to stay away from the woman on three occasions in January and February 2022.

The trial continues.