face-to-face with her alleged attacker in a courtroom battle.

Katherine Leslie was cross-examined for 35 minutes in a Supreme Court trial on Monday -- by the man accused of assaulting her.

Kenneth Rupert Alexander Robinson, 54, is alleged to have held Miss Leslie at knifepoint and marched her to a spot where her stolen scooter had been found.

But Robinson, of Hillview Road, Warwick, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully possessing a knife, assault causing bodily harm and depriving Miss Leslie of her liberty.

And he appealed to the judge to dismiss all charges as soon as the jury were sworn in.

The construction labourer, representing himself, asked for the jury to be sent out so he could argue for the case to be closed.

But Chief Justice Austin Ward said he did not have the power to dismiss the charges.

Miss Leslie, recalling her ordeal, said she felt a knife at her throat and was in fear of her life as she returned home from a dinner party.

The 25-year-old, now studying at the London College of Fashion, also showed the court a scar on her left forearm, allegedly left from a knife wound during the struggle.

She described how her nightmare began when she heard footsteps behind her as she walked down a pitch-black path near her house on Tele Lane, Warwick in the early hours of January 14, 1996.

Miss Leslie claimed Robinson put his hand over her mouth and marched her off to find her bike, stolen the night before.

During his cross-examination, Robinson asked Miss Leslie to tell the court she was not forced to walk with him and no knife had been used.

He also denied he made himself a nuisance with frequent visits to her -- and asked Miss Leslie if she remembered inviting him around for a cheese sandwich.

But the victim, who no longer lives in Bermuda, said she never invited Robinson to visit her.

And she said Robinson even asked her if she needed counselling at the end of the ordeal.

Robinson turned to Leslie and said: "Let me ask you this and think about what I'm going to ask you.

"Have you ever heard of anybody being kidnapped to go and get their own bike?'' Miss Leslie replied: "I can't say I have, no. I have never heard of it. But I think I have been through it.'' Prosecutor Charlene Scott told the court the victim tried to scream but her cries were muffled by Robinson's hand.

He was also said to have dragged her into a bush as a car passed by.

Miss Leslie, flown in for the trial from London, told the court: "It was about 12.30 a.m. and I was walking down towards the drive of my house when I heard heavy footsteps.

"I went down into a crouched position automatically to protect myself and the next thing I knew there was somebody placing their hand around my mouth from behind me.

"I remember just thinking he must be after my money. If not, he was going to injure me, so I said: `Take my purse, take my money, just don't hurt me.' '' Miss Leslie, who said Robinson frequently pestered her and her three roommates, added: "When he initially grabbed me, I saw a knife and I could feel it on my right hand side.

"He was telling me to shut up and be quiet and he was telling me: `I have got a knife.' "I was obviously making quite a lot of noise. I remember glancing over my shoulder and Kenneth, as he was known to me, had an unmistakeable moustache.

"I actually said to him: `Kenneth, it's you, I know it's you', to which he said: `No it's not. It's not me'.'' She said she began talking to Robinson when he loosened his grip over her mouth -- as she felt it was the best way to "put him at ease''.

Miss Leslie added: "I remember walking with him in fear of my life, not knowing where the knife was or if he still had it and what he could possibly do to me.'' She said Robinson walked her down Cross End Lane to Tribe Road No. 6, where her bike was hidden in some tall grass.

Robinson claimed he had seen three men wheeling the red Honda City Express out of the victim's drive the night before.

Miss Leslie added: "All of a sudden he had his head in his hands and was saying sorry. I was extremely upset and shocked and tearful.

"He proceeded to wheel it back for me all the time I was telling him how frightened I was and that nobody had done this to me before.

"He walked the bike back to the place where I parked it and said I should get it checked out for any nuts or bolts. Then he asked me if I needed counselling.'' During his questions, Robinson asked Miss Leslie: "Didn't you invite me back to that house for a cheese sandwich?'' Miss Leslie, whose voice was breaking with emotion, replied: "Never. I have never invited you anywhere in my life.'' Robinson added: "Don't you remember just before Christmas accepting gifts from me? A $50 voucher?'' Referring to her roommates, Miss Leslie said: "I can confirm that you put that in a card and you gave us all a card. It was meant to go straight back to you.

"I didn't keep anybody's $50 that Christmas.'' The trial, adjourned on Monday afternoon for legal arguments, resumes today.