Imam 'teaching at time of rape'

A Muslim cleric was still teaching at a mosque at the time he was alleged to have raped a girl pupil during religious lessons, a court has heard.

Manzoor Hussain, 42, is accused of rape and indecent assault at a mosque in Bristol between 1996 and 1997.

Mr Hussain told the police he was not teaching at the mosque at the time of the offences.

But Mosque secretary Tahir Mahmood told the court that Mr Hussain still taught there. Mr Hussain denies the charges.

Mr Hussain told police he no longer taught there as his contract had finished in August 1996.

Mr Mahmood told Exeter Crown Court that he assumed Mr Hussain taught there after August 1996 as he could not remember anyone else doing it.

He said a number of payments were made to Mr Hussain after August 1996, including one in January 1997.

The jury was told that Mr Hussain's successor as Imam at the mosque was eventually appointed in February 1998.

The girl, who was 13 at the time, was allegedly sexually assaulted when she went to the mosque with other children to learn the Koran during lessons taught by Mr Hussain.