A WOMAN who was allegedly sexually assaulted by an ex-university student at an Oxford nightclub kicked and pushed her attacker in a bid to get away, a court has heard.

Fred Edwards, of Cowley Road, East Oxford, denies one count of sexual assault on the woman while they were dancing at the O2 Academy in the early hours of November 3.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury of six men and six women at Oxford Crown Court yesterday how the 21-year old had grabbed her before hoisting her up on to him.

It was then, she told the court, that Edwards carried out the assault.

She said: “He grabbed me and then he went under my leotard.

"His right arm was still holding me.

“I pushed him away and struggled to get down.

“I pushed him and kicked him, I said a few swear words."

She then broke free and began ‘heaving’ in the toilets before leaving the club with a friend.

The jury was shown CCTV footage from the incident at the packed nightclub in Cowley Road.

Edwards, a former Oxford Brookes student, had been out with friends from the university's rugby club.

Eleanor Laws, defending Edwards, questioning the alleged victim, said that the attack had never taken place and that the CCTV footage showed the whole incident lasted just a few seconds.

She also suggested that the woman may have been more than tipsy than she claimed, having drank half a bottle of Rose wine and two vodka and lemonades before entering the club.

The incident was first reported to a security guard at the venue and Edwards was later identified by police officers and interviewed on December 20 last year.

Edwards told officers that despite having no recollection of the event ‘he would not do such a thing.’

The trial continues.