Ref. 29010-28 Police talk to members of the public after the attackA YOUNG girl who was violently assaulted as she walked through Queens Park told a crown court trial that she could not be sure she had picked out her attacker on an identity parade.

The 13-year-old said she was only 70-80 per cent positive when she identified the man who throttled her and indecently assaulted her after chasing her through the park on February 2.

Leif Stacey, 22, of Culvery Court, Swindon, has denied attempting to rape her and a second charge of indecent assault.

On the second day of the trial the jury saw the girl's videoed interview with the police, during which she described the incident.

But when questioned over a video-link by defence counsel Peter Henry about the identity parade, she confirmed she had already pointed out another man she thought might have been responsible for her ordeal.

He reminded her that while she was being driven to the central police station two days after the incident she spotted a teenager in a group outside the magistrates court wearing a white beenie hat with black checks.

"You were quite sure weren't you?" he asked. "Do you remember shouting to the officer: 'That's him!'"

The victim, who cannot be identified, agreed she had thought it was him.

"What I am suggesting to you is that the man you picked out is the wrong man. Do you agree that he might be the wrong man?"

The girl replied: "Yes, I wasn't 100 per cent."

Earlier she said she tried to flee from her attacker but was forced to hide in a bush near the Drove Road gates when she realised he was faster than she was.

She said she was terrified and couldn't remember how he got her out but she did remember the strange babyish voice he used.

She added he asked her age and when she said she was 10 his response was: "That turns me on."

The court heard how the attacker put his hand over her mouth when she began to scream.

"I kept screaming and kicking and punching and just trying to wriggle away," she said. "But he was too strong."

The girl gave a detailed account of how he put his hands around her neck and began strangling her before hitting her head against a low wall several times.

She said she closed her eyes and pretended to be unconscious but started screaming and kicking again when he indecently assaulted her.

She told the interviewing officer. "I kept trying to make conversation so he wouldn't do anything."

But he ignored her pleas to stop. He even suggested she carry out a sex act on him and then asked for full sex.

"I said my mum wouldn't let me do that, he said 'your mum's not here,'" she said.

She was saved by a man who happened to be walking home through the park.

Hearing him passing the girl began screaming again and was able to jump up and run to him for safety.

During the video the girl revealed injuries including bruising around her neck and on her shoulder and a scrape on her stomach.

After she attack she said she was scared to go out in case she saw the man.

On the first day of the trial prosecutor Ian Fenny said overwhelming DNA evidence proved Stacey had carried out the attack. It included skin under the girl's fingernails.

The case continues.

Tina Clarke