A MERSEYSIDE woman described how she thought a man was going to kill her during a horrific late-night cemetery rape.

A jury watched a video interview given by the victim, 24, to police, days after the alleged sex attack.

Latvian Vadims Holostovs, 31, from Southport, is accused of rape, sexual assault and wounding with intent.

He denies the charges.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how the Southport woman was grabbed from behind after going into a cemetery with Holostovs on Duke Street last November.

During a tearful account, the victim spoke of the rape, her clothes being pulled off, being grabbed around the neck and eventually being knocked unconscious.

She said: “He grabbed my legs and dragged me somewhere. I was trying to hold onto the grass.

“I was on the floor face down when he tried to sexually attack me. I thought he was going to kill me as he was so aggressive.

“I think I had my eyes shut most of the time.

“I felt scared and I think I said f------ get off me. I tried to kick him and I remember rolling, trying to get him off me. Then he was on top of me.

“I started screaming and that’s when he strangled me. I couldn’t breathe. That’s when he knocked me out cold.

“I remember waking up and I saw blood. It was horrible. I couldn’t see through my eye properly.

“When I woke up, my pants were hanging off. I felt like a car had run me over. I knew I was definitely attacked. My nose was bleeding and I felt dirty.”

The jury heard how the victim had gone out drinking on November 20 last year with a friend.