A SIX-year-old girl told a court a teenager threw her to the ground and tried to strangle her after taking her into woods.

Giving evidence via a video link at Cardiff crown court yesterday she said the 15-year-old youth took her into the woods and "threw me into the stingies".

He denies charges of attempted murder, attempted rape, and kidnapping. He admits indecent assault and grievous bodily harm with intent, but the prosecution refused to accept those pleas.

Prosecutor Mark Evans, QC, alleges that on June 4 the youth - whose identity is protected by the court - forcibly took the girl into woods in the Malpas area of Newport, and tried to strangle her by putting both hands around her neck.

When she was on the ground he either stamped or stood on her neck and windpipe, the court heard.

The girl said: "He just took me there." She said she tried to go but he grabbed her arm. She said she was "sad" because he wouldn't let her go and at one point he had "hold of my belly".

And she said he had scratched her and strangled her and put his foot on her chin. Earlier a witness broke down and wept as she described finding the girl.

Tina Stuart told the court: "I saw her eyes. She was in terrible fear. She just looked at us. "I picked her up. She'd given up - that look on her face. She was limp and didn't put up a struggle."

The girl was only wearing her T-shirt and trainers and Mrs Stuart said she was in a "dreadful state", so covered in leaves, mud and earth that she was unrecognisable. She described the child as "very subdued, very, very shocked".

Dr Alicia Rawlinson, a consultant paediatrician, examined the girl at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, the following day and said: "I was really quite shocked at her demeanour.

"She was very withdrawn, very traumatised. She barely spoke or responded and it took a couple of hours to examine her."

The court heard her eyes were bruised, there was a red mark from lip to cheek and her hair was matted with twigs and leaves. There was a leaf in one nostril, and a large tender abrasion on her jaw.

On the front of the neck was prominent bruising and there was a thick bruise on the left ear.

Her chest had bruises and scratches, and there were scratches on her back, arms, legs, buttocks and abdomen.

The doctor added: "I was very concerned that there had been an attempt at strangulation. A significant degree of force was used."

At this point a woman juror became distressed and the case was adjourned. Later the doctor said: "I think she was the subject of a very serious physical assault with a number of acute injuries which would have been painful for the child."