The former owner of a vape shop in Cheam groomed a 14-year-old then plied her with tequila and raped her in her sleep, a jury was told.
Iqbal Singh, who went by the name Tony, is alleged to have abused his position at Phone Repairs and Vape Store on Station Way to gain the trust of the girl - giving her alcohol, cigarettes and THC vapes.
When she got too drunk at a party she asked to sleep in the shop then woke to find him raping her, it is alleged.
The 45-year-old is on trial accused of rape, four sexual assaults and administering tequila and THC with intent to stupefy the girl to enable him to abuse her - the offences are said to have taken place over a six-month period in 2020.
Prosecutor Andrew Bousfield, opening the trial on Tuesday, September 16, said: "This case is about the grooming of a 14-year-old girl by a 40-year-old man that leads to her eventual rape."
Tony, a married man born in Afghanistan, befriended the girl and other schoolchildren, allowing them to use the back room of the shop to watch TV, smoke THC vapes and drink alcohol he bought for them, the court heard.
The victim told him she was 16 but did discuss school in front of him so it would have been clear she was younger, Mr Bousfield said.
Three of the sexual assaults are alleged to have taken place on various occasions when Tony lifted the girl up to reach the THC vapes in the shop.
Mr Bousfield said that in late 2020 the girl got very drunk at a party and like many 14-year-old she did not want to go home that drunk.
Remembering that Tony said he would always help her, she phoned him and asked to sleep in the shop, the court heard.
He picked her up and took her to the back room of the vape shop where there was a bed or sofa, Mr Bousfield said.
She said Tony then came in with a THC vape for her and poured her two or three tequila shots.
"The Crown says Tony knew what he was doing, the intent was to stupefy her so he could engage in sexual activity, which is exactly what he did," Mr Bousfield said,
The girl said she fell asleep on her back and woke on her front with her hips raised and Tony penetrating her.
"She froze and let it happen, she eventually went back to sleep," Mr Bousfield said.
The girl said: "The next day I was just trying to piece together what had happened and telling myself it was my fault because I was the one who called him."
Iqbal Singh pictured leaving Croydon Crown Court(Image: NQ)
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She told a friend about the abuse a year on and later it was reported to the police.
The defendant, of Gasgoine Road in Croydon, denies all of the charges, stating that they did not happen.
The trial continues.
Newsquest has seen documentation to confirm that Singh sold the shop in 2023, the new owners said they have no affiliation with the defendant and were completely unaware of the alleged offences when they made the purchase.