The 43-year-old Axel S. apologised to the woman in a Hamburg court, where his trial for attempted rape began on Monday. The court heard he asked her, “Would you like to have sex with me?” before grabbing at her skirt.

The Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper said on Tuesday, the man “slunk” into the court room, and spoke in a “squeaky Helium voice.”

“I wasn’t trying to have sex. My question was just an excuse to get at her lovely leather skirt,” he told the judge.

The apparent leather fetishist began following his victim Ludmilla N. from the Bergedorf S-Bahn train station in Hamburg last December, having apparently been captivated by the sight of her leather skirt.

He then got onto the same bus as the 55-year-old woman and stalked her all the way to her front door, where he made his grab at her skirt.

Ludmilla N. shouted for help and her 67-year-old partner came rushing out of their apartment to her aid. At that point Axel S. fled.

He was later caught by the police, who found a considerable quantity of leather clothes – including high-heels and wigs – in his home.

“I am sorry for what I did, and I would like to apologise to you,” Axel S. told Ludmilla N. in court. According to the Hamburger Morgenpost, she nodded and accepted his apology.

The Local/bk