A KARATE instructor who seduced a 'vulnerable' 13-year-old and had regular sex with her was jailed for eight years today.

Jaspal Riat's "despicable" behaviour towards Dana Baker drove her to attempt suicide - and she succeeded in March, aged just 16, Gloucester crown court heard.

Riat, 48, of Denewood Ave, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, had denied two charges of raping the Kidderminster schoolgirl, one charge of sexual assault and eight of sexual activity with a child. The charges were dated between February 2008 and May 2009.

He was cleared of the rape allegations and of the final charge of sexual activity with a child but convicted by a jury of the eight other charges.

As well as the jail term, Riat was ordered to sign the sex offender register for the rest of his life and was also banned for life from working with children.

• See tomorrow's Worcester News for the full story.