A man accused of assaulting a woman after she refused his sexual advances was granted bail after weeks of being turned down when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Charged with assault is Damion Osbourne, 25, of East Road, Kingston 12.

Choked victim

The allegations are that on December 20, the complainant went to a shop in the community where she was approached by the accused. It is alleged that he held on to her and made sexual demands. When she refused, he choked her and hit her in the face, causing bruising and swelling.

The court was further told by the investigating officer that since the accused man's detention, the complainant had received threats from his friends. It was also alleged that the accused had sent threats from behind bars. It was also revealed that Osbourne was charged with illegal possession of ammunition in another matter.

An attorney representing the accused told the court on a previous occasion that the allegations had been concocted by the arresting officer. He told the court that his client was under the impression that the complainant and the arresting officer were related in some way. Yesterday, the attorney told the court that his client did not even know the complainant, although she had claimed to know him from the community.

Osbourne was granted $30,000 bail with surety and was ordered to move from the community and live with a relative in Linstead.

The matter is to be mentioned again on February 26.