A 14-year-old girl told police that her mum gave her blessing to her sexual relationship with her middle aged karate instructor, a jury heard.

In a video recorded interview with police in July 2009, the girl – who has since died – told how her mother even invited karate tutor Jaspal Riat to Christmas lunch in 2008.

“She knew that I was seeing him,” said the Kidderminster girl. “My mum knew we were together. He told her we were together.

“My mum told me she was happy for us.”

The girl said Riat, now 48, of Denewood Avenue, Handsworth, Birmingham, was invited to Christmas lunch at her home with her grandparents and father.

But Riat did not attend, saying he was too busy, she said.

However on Boxing Day, she said, her father took her to Riat’s home and dropped her off there.

She then had sex with Riat and her father later picked her up, she said.

She could not recall if she stayed overnight with Riat or not.

Riat has denied two charges of raping the girl, one of sexually assaulting her and eight of having sexual activity with her between February 2008 and May 2009.

The jury at Gloucester crown court has been told that the girl first revealed that she was having sex with Riat when she saw a health counsellor at her Kiddermin-ster school.

She later gave a detailed account of her sexual liaison with him when she was video interviewed on July 2, 2009, and said her mother knew she was sleeping with Riat.

The prosecution allege Riat groomed the girl for sex and then one day kissed her with an open mouth. Shortly afterwards he allegedly plied her with drink at his home and then raped her, it is claimed.

From then on, it is alleged, Riat had ‘countless’ sexual encounters with her. In May 2009 the girl tried to commit suicide by taking a massive overdose of tablets.

During her July 2009 video interview she was asked about her suicide bid and she told the police she did it because she felt she had nothing to live for at that time.

She said she told Riat what she was planning to do “but he never once tried to stop me”.

In fact, she said, Riat told her, “Thank you for sacrificing yourself for me.”

Prosecutor Alan Kent QC has told the jury the girl died in March this year.

The trial continues.