A pensioner was left with a brain haemorrhage after fighting off a smirking sex attacker who had forced his way into her home, it has been alleged.

Neighbours of the woman - now aged 81 - found her with her jumper ripped and her jeans and underwear partially pulled down.

Soufyan Yahyaoui has gone on trial accused of trespassing in her home intending to carry out a sexual attack and also sexually assaulting her. He has denied both charges.

But the 41-year-old, of Parsonage Close, Tunbridge Wells, has pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the woman - his admission made just minutes before the start of the trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Prosecutor Franscesca Levett told the jury: "This case involves a violent sexual assault and the Crown say it was committed by this defendant on an elderly lady, leaving her with serious injuries."

She claimed that in May last year the victim was alone in her home watching the news when she went upstairs.

Ms Levett added: "As she did, she heard a ring at her door and answered after putting her pet dog on a chain.

"She opened the door and saw the defendant who said: 'I have just come to check on you' as he flicked his cigarette ash inside her door.

"She described his voice as slurred, giving her the impression he was either on drink or drugs.

"He had a smirky grin on his face and kept falling against an outside cupboard. She told him she had to get on and closed the door."

The prosecutor claimed that Yahyaoui then "burst in", grabbing the woman by the shoulders and pushing her against a stair rail.

Ms Levett continued: "She attempted to push him out of her house, shouting for him to get out and told him she was going to call the police but as she turned she was pushed again.

"The next thing she recalls is coming round after being knocked out and being draped half on her sofa and half on the floor."

The prosecutor said the pensioner's jumper had been torn, she had a large bump on her head and bruising and friction burns to her body.

Yahyaoui was later seen standing over the "dishevelled and hysterical" woman who shouted to a neighbour: "He's hurt me... he's tried to hurt me."

The pensioner's dog was later found locked up in a conservatory.

The prosecution claims Yahyaoui had taken the dog away along with his alleged victim's phone before undressing her in order to carry out a sex attack.

The defendant's DNA was later found on items of the woman's clothes and the insole of his red Nike trainers were also discovered inside the house, the court heard.

The woman was later treated in hospital for bleeding on the brain - which Yahaoui has now admitted he caused.

After being arrested he told police he had been invited inside the house but denied pushing her or committing any sex attack and when he left she was "fit and well".

The trial continues.

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