Tristan Andrew Tuthill, 28, faced a preliminary proceedings hearing today in the Launceston Magistrates Court.

He is contesting one count of aggravated sexual assault, which the Crown alleges occurred overnight between January 17 and 18 this year in Launceston.

Today, hotel patron Sharn Rehrmann, 20, gave evidence for the Crown.

He told the court that he had seen the complainant, a woman, in Hotel New York that night and she had appeared happy and chatty.

However, Mr Rehrmann said he later saw the woman sitting outside the hotel crying, and she said that a man had been "inappropriate" towards her.

He said the woman described the man as wearing "a white shirt and black sleeves".

Mr Rehrmann said a man matching this description appeared on the street and there was a confrontation between him and the man.

"He said something about starting a fight and that was it," Mr Rehrmann said of what the man told him.

"I did not want to fight him.

"He went straight into fighting pretty quick.

"I got into a fight with him and I think my brother pushed him as well.

"It was sort of just a few swings and that was it."

Mr Rehrmann said the man took his jumper, fled around the street corner and he found his jumper on the ground.

He said police were around the corner and everything happened pretty quickly.

Three other witnesses also gave evidence for the Crown today.

The matter will return to the Launceston Supreme Court on October 13.