Snubbed Nightclubber's Rape Bid

An angry nightclubber snubbed by a flirty blonde - thirteen years his senior - during a boozy evening out was caught with his trousers down, after trailing the victim home and trying to rape her, a court heard today (Monday).

The woman, who had downed a cocktail of of lager, whiskey and wine, and admits she smooched with the stranger who chatted her up at the late-night club screamed "rape" and was rescued by police alerted by worried neighbours.

John Cheruiyot,37, denies attempting to rape and indecently assaulting the 50 year-old outside Samuel Lewis Trust Buildings, Vanston Place, Fulham in the early hours of January 21, 2004.

Blackfriars Crown Court was told the victim walked alone to the nearby Havana Bar, in Fulham Road just before midnight following an all-day family get-together celebrating her sister's birthday.

"She had a fair amount to drink that evening and by this time she was feeling very drunk indeed," prosecutor Mr Toby Fitzgerald told the jury. "She was flattered by the attentions of the defendant, who was much younger and she kissed him in the nightclub."

The woman snubbed Cheruiyot's offer to go back to his place, but was confronted by him outside her home at 2.15am. 

"He appeared angry and told her she had led him on and then left the club," explained Mr Fitzgerald. "He pushed her to the ground then pulled her jeans halfway down and pulled her knickers down."

Neighbours called 999 after hearing the woman's cries of "rape" and when officers quizzed Cheruiyot he claimed his trousers were hanging off because they were simply too big for him.

The trial is expected to last four days.