A KARATE teacher accused of rape held a knife to the throat of a 14-year-old girl for “empowerment and intimidation”, a court was told.

A jury heard the Kidderminster girl’s accusations came in a statement she made earlier this year – shortly before she died.

Her statement, made in January, revealed further allegations against Riat to the ones she had already made in earlier video interviews with the police in 2009.

Jaspal Riat, aged 48, of Denewood Avenue, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, is on trial accused of two offences of raping the girl, one of sexually assaulting her and eight of having sexual activity with her between February 2008 and May 2009.

He denies all the charges and insists that he did not have a sexual relationship of any kind with the girl.

The Kidderminster girl was aged 13 and 14 at the time of the alleged offences against her by Riat, who ran the KAMA karate organisation in Birmingham.

The jury has seen video interviews in which she described a full sexual relationship with Riat during which she would often stay overnight at his flat.

She claimed her mother knew of the relationship and had given it her blessing.

Her latest statement was read to the Gloucester Crown Court jury by prosecutor Alan Kent QC.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC pointed out to the jury that its contents were not accepted by Riat and because of her death his defence lawyer would not be able to challenge her about it.

In the statement the girl said that while having an Indian meal once in a restaurant with Riat he held a knife to the neck of a girlfriend who was with them. While doing it he asked her, ‘How much do you trust me?’ “He then carried on as if nothing had happened,” she said “I think he did it for empowerment and intimidation. He would often hold a knife to my throat.”

She said that usually involved a kitchen knife and happened at his home.

“Once I was scared and I thought he was going to cut my throat.”

The trial continues.