A NEWPORT man denied trying to rape a woman when he appeared at the city's crown court yesterday.

Said Bessayah, 36, of Fairoak Court, Newport, pleaded not guilty to the attempted rape of a woman.

The incident is alleged to have occurred near the Sainsbury's supermarket off Kingsway, on April 1 this year.

The case was adjourned for trial at Newport crown court, to start in August.

The trial is expected to last five days.

Bessayah was remanded in custody.