Man tried to rape woman near M1 services, jury told

A lorry driver attempted to rape a woman he did not know after grabbing her on a country lane near a service station on the M1 in Leicestershire, a court has heard.

A jury at Leicester Crown Court on Monday was told Tadeusz Podlasinski, 60, approached the woman on Baines Lane, near the Leicester Forest East services, on 25 April and "attempted to push her into nearby bushes".

Prosecutor Michael Brady KC said the Polish national was "persistent" in his attempt to rape the woman, who "repeatedly" told him to stop.

Podlasinski, of Nowa Wies Wielka, denies attempted rape, attempted assault by penetration, an alternative count of sexual assault and intentional strangulation.

The court heard the woman walked past the defendant's lorry, which had been parked in the service station car park on the southbound side of the motorway, at 18:23 BST.

Brady said the woman became aware a man she did not know was walking behind her, before he "approached her, grabbed her and attempted to push her into nearby bushes".

Jurors were told Podlasinski "demanded" the woman remove her clothes to which she refused and "began screaming for help".

"At which point the defendant grabbed her around the neck with sufficient force to restrict her breathing and cause visible bruising to her neck," Brady said.

Brady added Podlasinski "threatened to kill" the woman if she continued to scream.

The court heard she was able to push the defendant away. Podlasinski then walked off in the direction of Leicester Forest East services.

The woman called a colleague, who picked her up, and a report to the police was made.

Three days later, on 28 April, Podlasinski was arrested by officers at the service station.

When questioned by police, he denied having "any interaction" with the woman, and Brady said the defendant "denied seeing, touching or speaking with her".

The jury was also told that when Podlasinski was shown a photo of the woman, he denied having seen her before.

The court heard Podlasinski had described his activities on 25 April as "routine" and said he had been "eating, contacting family, cooking, using the internet, and speaking with colleagues".

DNA attributable to the defendant was detected on neck swabs taken from the woman and on her waistband, the jury was told.

The trial continues.

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