Victim 'tracked down sex attacker on Facebook'

The victim of an alleged sex attack tracked down her assailant using Facebook, a court has been told.

The woman told a jury at the Old Bailey that she had been attacked in Tufnell Park, north London, in May.

But the attacker told her his name, age and that he lived in Holloway, north London, so she found his profile on Facebook, she said.

Alpha Gray, 30, of Holloway, denies attempted rape, sexual assault and causing actual bodily harm.

The woman, a mother in her 20s, said she had found his profile by searching for his unusual first name and then finding a picture of him on a beach.

'Unusual name'

After telling police, Mr Gray was arrested and the woman then picked him out of an identification parade, jurors heard.

"It's such an unusual name. I didn't think it was his real name," she said.

"His picture came up and it turned out he knew someone I knew.

"There was a picture of him on a beach holding a little girl."

Later, when she viewed the identification parade, she picked out Mr Gray, the court was told.

Gopal Hooper, prosecuting, told the court the woman had just left a pub in Tufnell Park when she was approached by a man.

He tried to rape her, pulled down her top and punched her in the face as she tried to run away, the court was told.

The woman said she had been left with a bleeding ear and bruises after the man had tried to rape her.

The trial continues.