A man on trial accused of attempted rape in a children’s play area told the jury his alleged victim “went nuts” and attacked him.

Graham Butterfield, giving evidence at Bradford Crown Court yesterday, said he had no sexual motive and had to restrain the “half-crazed” woman when she went for him in Lund Park, Keighley.

He said she followed him into the dark park shortly after 6am on February 6 last year after they had met for the first time at a house party.

Butterfield, 30, who then lived at Central Avenue, Keighley, pleads not guilty to attempted rape, an alternative offence of sexual assault and causing the woman actual bodily harm.

The woman, a mother in her 30s, says she suffered bruising to her arms and a broken ankle when Butterfield tried to force himself on her in the fenced off play area.

She said she went with him after the party because she believed he was calling her a taxi.

He had said he had a wife and child and she trusted him.

Butterfield told the court he showed her where the taxi office was and then carried on walking home.

He told the jury the woman followed him across the road and into the park.

She caught up with him and took him by the waist.

When they got to the play area, “she started freaking out and going nuts”, accusing him of trying to trap her and attempting to rape her.

She threw her hands about, tried to get away from him and then attacked him.

Butterfield said he was forced to restrain her.

He denied pulling down her clothing, exposing himself or any sort of sexual assault.

He told the jury he did not know how her ankle came to be broken.

It was cold and raining and he had no interest in anything sexual with her.

Butterfield said he offered to show the woman where he lived after she attacked him and invited her to call the police if she thought he had done anything wrong.

The trial continues.