A TEENAGER befriended a woman on her way home from a night out and tried to strangle her before raping her, a court heard.

His terrified victim believed the 16-year-old attacker was going to kill her so she agreed to go along with his sexual demands in order to walk away from the ordeal alive.

Teesside Crown Court heard the boy, from Crook, County Durham, groped his victim before pressing on her neck until she passed out.

When the 19-year-old came round, the teenager was on top of her trying to remove her jeans and underwear, said David Brooke, prosecuting.

"She was absolutely petrified," Mr Brooke said.

"Because she did not want to be hurt anymore, knowing he was capable of strangling her, she decided to make the brave decision to submit to him.

"She said she would have sex with him if he promised not to hurt her or kill her."

The prosecution alleged that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then had sex with the victim twice.

He also forced her to commit a sex act. He denies a charge of rape.

"She was feeling sick and disgusted," said Mr Brooke,

"She was crying: 'Can I go home now?'

"He started kissing her and forcing himself on her. She pulled away."

The court heard the victim had been approached by the boy as she walked to a friend's house after leaving a bar in Crook town centre. They had mutual friends in common, said the prosecution.

During the walk, the boy told her he knew a quicker route to where she was going and she was led into a dark wood, where the attack took place, the prosecution said.

She managed to flee when another man walked past and she ran away and alerted the police.

The victim suffered a cut to her tongue, marks on her throat, bruising and swelling to her lower body and mouth. There was also evidence of pinpoint bruising on her eyelids, a sign of asphyxia, Mr Brooke said.

The trial continues.