Man arrested for attempting to rape woman, 21, in Times Square

A felon from Manhattan was arrested Wednesday for choking a 21-year-old woman unconscious and then trying to rape her in Times Square, cops and sources said.

Anthony Smith, 37, was busted in the Lower East Side and charged with attempted rape and strangulation stemming from the sickening assault early Sunday morning, police said.

Smith has six prior arrests, dating back to a robbery in 2006, according to investigators.

He also served time in prison for a robbery conviction in August 2011.

The alleged sicko was charged with assault with a weapon and possession of contraband while inside Rikers Island.

In the latest crime, police said Smith snuck up behind a woman at the corner of West 47th Street and Eighth Avenue around 3:30 a.m.

Smith allegedly choked the victim until she blacked out and then attempted to rape her, sources told The Post.

But when the woman regained consciousness, Smith got spooked and ran off, cops said. 

The victim was hospitalized with neck pain from the strangulation but is expected to recover, cops said.