Komar Uddin, pictured, denies raping a 19-year-old girl at her home in Leicester while promising to drive out an evil spirit while the girl's family remained downstairs

A spiritual healer twice raped a young woman in her bedroom, under the guise of driving away an evil spirit, whilst her unsuspecting family were downstairs, a jury was told.

The sex attack allegedly took place during a religious candlelit ritual while prayers were being said.

Komar Uddin was said to have rubbed holy oil onto the 19-year-old's stomach and stroked her back and hips, before sexually touching and twice raping her, it was claimed at Leicester Crown Court.

The 68-year-old defendant, who was described in court as a priest and also a spiritual healer, was invited to help by the woman's father - who was concerned about his daughter's fear she was being followed by an evil spirit following the sudden death of a relative.

The alleged victim told the jury that during the private ritual at the family's Leicester home, Uddin also announced she was pregnant and offered to help make the baby 'go away' for £200.

After his arrest two days later, the defendant was released on bail in early 2015 - but left the country.

He was extradited to the UK from Germany last November, the jury was told. Uddin, of no fixed address, denies sexual assault, assault by penetration, causing a female to engage in sexual activity and two counts of rape, on February 25, 2015.

Giving evidence, the woman, said she initially thought it was part of the 'ritual' to drive away an evil or bad spirit.

She said Uddin's voice became 'scary' changing to 'harsh and deep' during the treatment and she thought it was an evil spirit inside him talking, saying hello in Urdu.

Leicester Crown Court, pictured, heard an internal swab taken by the victim contained Uddin's DNA.

He allegedly asked her to apply oil to her private parts, after stroking her stomach and back.

She claimed he pulled down her lower clothing and commenced sexual activity before having intercourse with her.

The complainant told the jury she was too scared about the spirits, or to object, and was unsure if it was part of the treatment.

She alleged Uddin told her afterwards not to tell anyone or the 'treatment' would not work.

When he left she was distressed and crying, before telling her family.

An internal swab from the teenager was found to have Uddin's DNA on, said Mr Thatcher.

In interview at the time, the defendant claimed nothing sexual happened and when the officers asked if any DNA would be found, he replied 'God willing' there would not be any.

During the alleged victim's cross-examination, defence counsel, James McLernon, suggested she was lying and claimed she had offered to have sex with Uddin.

Mr McLernon claimed she instigated matters by putting the defendant's hand on her private parts, but he had pushed her hand away and refused, saying she was the same age as his grandchildren.

The woman, who gave evidence from behind a screen, disagreed adding: 'No he didn't say that.'

Mr McLernon said: 'He did not at any stage expose himself?'

The woman replied: 'Yes he did.'

Richard Thatcher, prosecuting, earlier told the jury: 'Amongst those who accepted and trusted him as a priest were the complainant and her family.

'He was more than simply a priest to them, their belief system included a belief in the spirit world and the belief a person can be taken over by an evil spirit.

'A priest, such as the defendant, it's thought can drive out that spirit.'

Mr Thatcher told the jury: 'Whatever your own views on such matters the prosecution say the defendant took advantage of those genuinely held beliefs to gain access to the complainant who, by common agreement of her family, was a fragile individual.'

Mr Thatcher said: 'Preying on that belief, convincing her that he was to deal with an evil spirit, the prosecution say, the defendant attacked and raped her in her bedroom at her family home.

'He did that whilst the rest of the household was downstairs, such was the respect that he commanded from the father and the rest of the family.

'They wouldn't have questioned him.'

The court heard how the trusting father had helped in the preparation of the bedroom, by fetching candles and incense, for the 'treatment' that would deal with the evil spirit.

The defendant allegedly summoned the father into the bedroom on several occasions during and after the ritual, when his daughter was clothed, and she had not complained.

Mr Thatcher said: 'In reality Uddin knew he wouldn't get away with this; from the moment he left that house, leaving the complainant in a visibly distressed state, he never returned - despite having suggested it was one of three days of treatment.

The trial continues.