A SUSPECTED child rapist has told the Old Bailey a "terrified" girl who testified against him did so via video link because she was a liar.

Mohammed Karrar, 38, is accused of grooming and drugging girls before arranging them to be raped for money.

He is one of nine men on trial who deny child sex ring charges.

One of his alleged victims, known as Girl 4, gave evidence through a screen in the court room in February and described to the jury how the married father-of-four violently sexually assaulted her and sold her for sex from the age of 11.

But on the witness stand this morning Karrar told the jury the girl had tried to retract her police statement and was reluctant to give evidence because it was all lies.

He said: "She had to do it behind a screen because she is a liar."

But prosecutor Noel Lucas, cross-examining, said the girl had feared police would not be able to protect her or her mother.

He said to Karrar: "You have conveniently missed out the reason that this poor girl was terrified to give evidence because of you."

Karrar denied assaulting the girl with a baseball bat and taking her for an illegal abortion when he got her pregnant aged 12, adding: "I would never ever do anything like that."

And he later said: "I have never ever even touched that girl."

But Mr Lucas said: "It's absurd to say anyone would lie in the manner of detail that (Girl 4) has to this court."

Karrar replied: "I know she has lied."

Karrar is also accused of arranging for Girl 3 to be raped at his Riverside Court studio flat and trafficking her for sex between the ages of 13 and 15.

Mr Lucas said: "It's precisely because they were young girls out of control that you were able to bend them to your will."

Karrar said his flat, which he shared with his wife and family, was in the Grandpont area which was patrolled by police, adding: "You are telling me all these things were happening and nobody ever knew?"

The trial continues.

Nine defendants deny 66 charges. They are:

  • Kamar Jamil, 27, of Aldrich Road, Summertown, Oxford, denies five rapes, two charges of conspiracy to rape, one of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and one of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Akhtar Dogar, 32, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies five rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Anjum Dogar, 31, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies three rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Assad Hussain, 32, of Ashhurst Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, denies rape and two charges of sexual activity with a child.
  • Mohammed Karrar, 38, of Kames Close, Cowley, denies seven rapes, four charges of conspiracy to rape, two of trafficking for sexual exploitation, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, serious sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, using an instrument to procure a miscarriage, and supplying a Class A drug to another.
  • Bassam Karrar, 33, of Hundred Acres Close, Cowley, denies three rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two charges of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Mohammed Hussain, 24, of Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, denies three charges of sexual activity with a child.
  • Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, of Palmer Road, Wood Farm, Oxford, denies two charges of sexual activity with a child.
  • Bilal Ahmed, 26, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead, denies sexual activity with a child.