A man has appeared at court accused of sexually assaulting a woman while her husband showered upstairs - before unleashing a campaign of violent threats against the couple.

Fizan Syed, 41, of no fixed abode, is on trial at Reading Crown Court. He stands charged with one count each of sexual assault, making a threat to kill, threatening with a bladed article and threatening a witness in a criminal case.

Syed denies all allegations against him.

Opening the case yesterday (March 6), prosecuting barrister Benjamin Aina KC revealed that, at the time of the alleged offending, Syed had just been released from prison.

The Crown contends that, around midnight on August 12, 2023, the accused went to a property in Richmond Crescent, Slough.

Upon gaining entry to the house, Syed approached the occupant - whose husband was upstairs showering at the time.

Mr Aina KC said that Syed then launched a sex attack on the woman.

The prosecutor told jurors: "He [Syed] kissed her, touched her legs, her breasts, her stomach, put her hand down the inside of his trousers and made her touch his [genitals].

"She was, during all of this, screaming for help from her husband."

The woman told police that Syed then fled, leaving her to relate the ordeal to her husband.

The woman did not initially report the attack to police, fearing for her safety. However, Syed's behaviour soon escalated.

Just a day after the alleged assault, the court heard that Syed appeared in the couple's garden while the husband was working outside.

He allegedly made graphic threats, telling the other man: "I will buy a gun and shoot you in the head."

The husband told investigators that Syed then produced a knife and held it against his chest. The couple finally complained to police on September 1, almost a month after the alleged sex attack.

Syed was arrested - but Mr Aina KC said that his campaign of intimidation did not end there.

Shortly after being released under investigation, the couple said they saw Syed outside their home - again armed with what they believed to be a knife.

Mr Aina KC said: "The defendant was stabbing the knife into the garden wall."

On this occasion, the complainants heard Syed shouting: "I'm going to kill you."

The defendant has denied any of the incidents took place.

He maintains that he spent the evening of the alleged sexual assault smoking by himself.

Mr Aina KC told the jury: "The issue you are going to have to decide is whether the two witnesses are telling you the truth."

The trial continues.