AN Oxford University student who told a teenager in a nightclub he wanted to assault and rape her was just making a joke inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey, a court heard.

Jack Fitzsimons, who used to work for US space agency NASA, was given a conditional discharge after admitting one charge of assault on Jade Blake on September 27.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Friday that 23-year-old Fitzsimons grabbed the 19-year-old around the throat in the Plush Lounge in Park End Street and told her: “I want to take you home and abuse you and rape you.”

Fitzsimons, of Oatlands Road, Oxford, claimed it was a misunderstood joke inspired by the erotic novel.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said Fitzsimons approached Ms Blake in the nightclub and started dancing with her before suddenly putting his hand around her throat.

Ms Blake got away and went back to dance with her friends before Fitzsimons, a PhD student, came back, put his hand over her throat and squeezed it.

Ms Olliver said: “He said: I want to take you home and abuse you and rape you,’ which greatly frightened and scared her.” Ms Blake was seen sobbing in the corner of the nightclub. Police were called and arrested Fitzsimons.

Jonathan Coode, defending, said Fitzsimons thought he was “getting on very well” with Ms Blake when they were dancing.

He said: “He [Fitzsimons] feels that a joke has been misunderstood and taken the wrong way and landed him in the crown court.”

Judge Ian Pringle handed Fitzsimons a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered him to pay £100 costs, a £150 courts charge and £400 compensation.