WOMAN who was grabbed by a man freed herself by hitting him in the testicles with her mobile phone, a court heard.

Monika Skurzokova was walking home after celebrating her 30th birthday when a motorist grabbed her around the neck and tried to bundle her into the back of his car.

Jason Emminson, 25, of Vallentin Road, Walthamstow, is said to have spotted Miss Skurzokova after she left a taxi office at 2.40am.

She had been celebrating her birthday at the Rising Sun pub, in Lea Bridge Road.

Emminson crept up behind her in Wood Street as she chatted on her mobile, grabbed her and tried to drag her into his 4x4, the Old Bailey heard.

Miss Skurzokova struggled with her attacker as he tried to force her into the back seat, but Emminson showed her a weapon and said: "Just get in the f***ing car. I don't want to hurt you," it was claimed.

The prosecution insist Emminson pulled her into his Mitsubishi Shogun, but after several desperate attempts the terrified captive managed to free herself and hit her attacker in between the legs with the mobile phone.

She then ran off to raise the alarm as Emminson sped away.

Prosecutor Brian Argyle said: "A man's hand came over her shoulder and the forearm round her neck. She was held so tightly she couldn't breathe.

"She could feel the man's breath in her ear and she was dragged backwards."

The attack on May 28 last year was witnessed by a couple living in a nearby flat who saw a man "pushing" a girl in to the back seat as she screamed "help me", said Mr Argyle.

When Emminson noticed the couple, he allegedly shouted: "She's my girlfriend."

But the couple was suspicious and noted down the registration number of the Shogun and called the police.

"He would have driven her away if it wasn't for the fact that the attempted kidnap was seen by two people," said the prosecutor.

The court heard how police spotted Emminson in the Shogun a few days later in the same street and he tried to distance himself' from the vehicle by claiming it belonged to his father.

In an interview, Emminson said he was not the driver on the night of the attack and he had been out with his flatmate and his girlfriend at a pub, but CCTV evidence proved he was lying, said Mr Argyle.

Miss Skurzokova later picked out Emminson as her attacker in a video identity parade at Barkingside police station, in east London.

Emminson denies one count of attempted kidnap.

The trial continues.