A CABBIE offered a frightened schoolgirl cash to try and bribe her to stop her picking out his cousin in an identity parade, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mohammed Khaliq, 23, who worked for Crown and Greenline Taxis, Colne, walked uninvited into the 13-year-old's home, followed her upstairs, bolted the door, gave her £20 and offered her more.

He was arrested after police were alerted. Officers hid as Khaliq turned up at a pub the next night after telling the youngster he would meet her there. Khaliq, of Fleet Street, Nelson, denies attempting to pervert the course of justice, between November 12 and 15 last year.

Paul Treble, prosecuting, said at the time of the alleged offence, the girl, now 14, was the victim in a totally unrelated case and a man named Saghir Ahmed was arrested and interviewed as a suspect.

He also worked at the taxi firm, on Market Place, and was the defendant's cousin. Police decided to hold an identity parade, to see if the 13-year-old could pick the suspect out. Last November 13, before the parade was due to take place, the girl was walking on Spring Lane, Colne, when a red taxi, driven by the defendant, stopped and he asked to meet the 13-year-old five minutes later. The teenager said she did not want the money, but Khaliq told her not to be "daft," promised more and said she should meet him at a pub the next night.

The complainant refused, Khaliq said he would meet her later, but police arrested him. When Khaliq was interviewed, he told police the girl had asked him to change coins for the £20 note and he had done so.

He denied offering her cash or having spoken to her about the identity parade. Khaliq claimed he had gone to the pub because of a fare and said the 13-year-old had gone to talk to him.

Giving evidence, the schoolgirl told of her fear when the defendant asked if he could talk to her and entered her house uninvited.

She claimed Khaliq followed her upstairs, went back down and bolted the door. He then gave her £20 and said he did not want her to pick out his cousin on an identity parade.

(Proceeding)