An illegal Algerian immigrant accused of beating a woman unconscious in an attempted rape has told a court the reason he is in Austria is to “f*ck the women”.

On trial at the Regional Court of Linz the Algerian, who has been convicted several times in France and Austria, denied carrying out the attack in April this year. He is alleged to have tried to rape the victim before brutally beating her.

The woman was left lying unconscious with serious injuries in bushes near the bus stop where the incident occurred. She is also thought to have been psychologically scarred by the event.

Asked why he’d come to Austria the accused replied: “I have come to Austria to f*ck the women”. As well as having several convictions in Europe, the Algerian has a rejected asylum decision and a travel ban under his belt. The 35 year old is also accused of committing an attempted rape last November, and of an assault.

Deportation has not so far been possible as Austria has no arrangements with Algeria.

Testifying, a student who was approached by the victim told the court: “The woman came up to me and was covered in blood. You could not see her face. She said to me: ‘I was raped.’”

After hearing this testimony, presiding judge Ursula Eichler asked the accused whether he would like to add something to his statement, since the statements of the victim, the witnesses, and DNA evidence would weigh heavily on his case.

Through his interpreter, the accused responded: “I’ve never seen this woman in my life.”

He then repeated, several times, “I swear by Allah that I did not rape that woman.”

Wochenblick reported that the victim was traumatised and still had serious injuries to the left side of her face as a result of the attack. Crying, she left the courtroom with relatives after the video of her testimony was played.

Following the brutal attack in April she has undergone nine different types of medical treatment in psychotherapeutic care, and is having to take strong anxiety and insomnia medications.

The hearing was postponed so that a psychiatric evaluation of the accused and a health report of the victim can be undertaken. If convicted, the defendant will be sentenced to up to ten years in jail.