A man has gone on trial accused of launching a violent and sexual  assault on a woman.

Jurors at Southampton Crown Court heard Lewis Fox, 31, sexually assaulted and repeatedly ‘punched’ the complainant.

Fox was in Southampton when the alleged attack took place, his trial was told on Monday. He denies attempted rape and several other charges.

Opening the case for prosecution, Timothy Moores said Fox had ‘beaten her up’ and made the complainant believe ‘he was going to kill her.’

He said: “As she started to get up he pushed her to the ground and kicked her.

“He then had his hands around her throat and said he would kill her.”

READ MORE: Second man arrested after woman sexually assaulted in park

Jurors heard how he then sexually assaulted the woman before telling her he was going to ‘knock her out’.

Mr Moores said: “She was so scared of being assaulted again. She was under the threat of violence.

“It was a persistent attack.”

In a police video shown to the jury, the woman said the defendant attacked her a second time after he saw her taking a photo of her injuries.

She said: “This sparked a second attack which was a lot more brutal.

“He was hitting me a lot harder and he was slapping me on my face and back.

“He put his hand around my neck again and was telling me he was going to kill me.”

Mr Moores added: "Her using her phone triggered the second violent assault."

He then told the court how, shortly after the attack, the complainant ran from the building naked in an attempt to evade Fox.

She “hid in the bushes” until she called people in a nearby car for help.

Mr Moores said: “She sustained serious facial trauma; she suffered two black eyes and bruising and cuts all over her body.

“Fox was intending to cause her grievous bodily harm.”

Fox, of Stanley Road in Portsmouth, denies two charges of assault by penetration, attempted rape, making a threat to kill, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.