A man accused of clamping his hands over a woman’s mouth in a night time attack in Maida Vale has denied attempted rape.

Mohammadullah Khan, 19, allegedly tried to force himself on a 26-year-old woman after groping her bottom in Shirland Road, Maida Vale on July 2 last year.

The man, who entered the country as an asylum seeker after fleeing war torn Afghanistan in 2007, kept his head bowed during the hearing at Westminster Magistrate’s Court.

Khan is currently being held at Isis Prison in southeast London while the validity of his immigration status is investigated.

He denied attempted rape and was remanded in custody until a case management hearing at Southwark Crown Court on November 30.