A 22-year-old man has been charged with rape and intentional strangulation following an alleged attack on a woman in Covent Garden, central London. The alleged assault took place in the early hours of Saturday 22 August, when the victim, a woman in her twenties, was approached and dragged into a doorway before managing to escape and report the incident to police.

Christopher Rocha, of Westminster, was arrested and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday 12 September, where he was remanded in custody. The alleged attack occurred on Macklin Street at around 5.20am. Rocha is due to next appear at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday 9 October.