A MAN charged with the alleged rape of a woman in Bournemouth's Lower Gardens has denied the offence.

Luke Alan Christopher West pleaded not guilty during a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court this morning.

West, of Warren Avenue in Southampton, who appeared via video link, also denied a charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared before Judge Brian Forster QC for the arraignment.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at 5.40am on Wednesday, November 13.

Judge Forster scheduled a trial to begin on Monday, May 11, 2020, at Bournemouth Crown Court.

West, 28, who has blond hair and a beard and could be seen in a grey sweatshirt in the video feed, was remanded in custody. Throughout the hearing he was watched by a custody officer, who was in the room with him.

The defendant was represented in court by barrister Gregory Fishwick, while Robert Bryan led the prosecution on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.

A case management hearing has been scheduled by Judge Forster to take place on Thursday, April 2, 2020.

Prosecutors allege West, who has previously been staying at a property in Durley Chine Road, Bournemouth, raped the woman, who he didn’t know, early in the morning on November 13.

It is claimed the woman was approached from behind and attacked at around 5.40am as she walked through the Gardens.

A member of the public called the emergency services after finding the complainant just after 6.10am, police claim.

The complainant, who is in her 40s, has been discharged from hospital. She continues to be supported by specially-trained police officers.

A previous hearing at Poole Magistrates' Court heard she also suffered facial injuries during the alleged incident.

A 43-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in relation to the alleged incident has been questioned by police and released under investigation.