Man, 28, 'tried to murder woman he met on a night out after beating and ... trends now
A man tried to kill a woman he met during a night out by beating and stamping on her before and stripping her naked and dragging her into a woodland, a court has heard.
Matthew Stevens, 28, met the victim during a night out in Newcastle city centre before they shared a taxi to his home in Brunswick Village in the early hours of March 11.
CCTV captures him and the woman, in her 30s and from Gateshead, walking through the streets before there is a gap of 50 minutes.
Stevens then reappears alone, with prosecutors arguing that he subjected the woman to a sustained attack which left her badly injured during this period.
Police at the scene of an incident in the Aged Miners Home area of Brunswick Village, Newcastle
Matthew Stevens, 28, met the victim during a night out in Newcastle city centre before they shared a taxi to his home in Brunswick Village. Pictured: A police cordon at the scene
The victim was discovered barely conscious by a dog walker later the same day.
She was wearing only socks in a woodland close to the A1, had suffered a number of injuries and was hypothermic - her body temperature having plummeted to just 30C.
Stevens has admitted responsibility for the attack, pleading guilty to wounding with intent, but denies attempted murder.
Newcastle Crown Court today heard how the victim was enjoying a night out in the hours prior to the attack.
Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said: 'Within a few hours the defendant had, say the prosecution, attempted to murder her.
'He left her unconscious, badly injured and naked in some woods near Brunswick Village, next to the A1.
'Fortunately, early the next morning, a dog walker came across her. He found her about 6am on March 11 and called 999.'
A jury heard that there is body worn camera footage of the victim from the first officer on the scene and pictures of her injuries taken in hospital.
Mr Doig added: 'These are extremely unpleasant images and I'm sorry about that. However the prosecution intend to prove the defendant tried to murder her and in order for you to decide whether we have proved that, I'm afraid you have to see for yourself how and where she was left.'
The woman's face was left 'grossly swollen', she had bleeding in both eyeballs and multiple lacerations to her face - including one right through her lower lip.
She also had a
