A teenager carried out a sex attack on a young woman after following her from a nightclub.

Nineteen-year-old Craig Gallagher admitted assaulting the 20-year-old, with intent to rape, in Central Park, Airdrie in North Lanarkshire.

Gallagher, of Holehills Place in Airdrie, carried out the attack around 2am on January 15, last year, the High Court in Glasgow heard.

Advocate depute Kath Harper, prosecuting, said: "The complainer was on her mobile phone and hung up just before she was assaulted."

"She does not have a clear recollection of what happened after she hung up, but the next thing she remembers is lying on her back on the ground with a male straddling her.

"She noticed that her clothes and hair were wet and she had no shoes on. She began to shout and scream and to struggle with the accused. "

The court was told that Gallagher began pulling at her clothing. He then stood up and ordered the woman, who was lying on the ground sobbing, to remove her trousers.

She ran off, but was grabbed by the accused, who dragged her back on to the ground and struck her on the face.

The woman, a trainee accountant, managed to scratch Gallagher who then grabbed her face, pushed it into the ground and repeatedly struck her head on the ground.

Miss Harper told the court: "She felt unable to continue to resist the accused. She continued to scream, but did not think she could be heard and had effectively resigned herself to the fact that he was going to be able to do what he wanted to her.

"Fortunately for her a woman living nearby heard the screams and phoned the police."

The court heard that Gallagher ran off when he saw the blue flashing lights of a police car approaching.

He handed himself into Coatbridge police station. Initially he told police he had a scratch on his face and mud-stained clothing because he had been play fighting with a friend.

Later Gallagher said he had made a mistake due to being "full of drink".

Defence counsel Simon Gilbride said: "He has no recollection of these events. He found it very difficult to conceive he would behave in such a way."

Judge Lord Tyre told Gallagher: "You have pleaded guilty to the crime of assault with intent to rape. This is a very serious offence. This incident was a very terrifying incident for the victim."

Lord Tyre deferred sentence on Gallagher for background reports until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh. He was placed on the sex offenders register and allowed bail but placed on a curfew.