A father-of-three accused of trying to strangle a teenage girl with a rope has told a court that he has no recollection of it.

Darren Ford, 43, of Oaks Dene, Walderslade, Chatham, told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court: “I have no recollection of what happened. I have had plenty of time to think about it.”

Ford denies attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous harm with intent in June last year.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left with her eyes bulging, her face blue and pinpoint bleeding in the whites of her eyes.

Ford told the jury that there had been occasions before when he had suffered from gaps in his memory. He had been told about incidents which he could not remember.

He said he had been feeling down in June last year and added: “I had had enough of feeling the way I did so I decided that I wanted to end my life. I decided to hang myself. I had a rope in my car which I was going to use.”

Ford said he took the rope and did not know what happened next. “I remember standing over the girl with the rope round her neck,” he said. “My hands were on each end of the rope and I was facing her. She was blue.”

Ford said he was terrified and dialled 999 and suggested to the emergency services that the girl had tried to commit suicide. “I was scared,” he said.

The trial continues.