A WAITER accused of raping a 16-year-old girl told a court he only acted as driver for his co-defendant.

Speaking through a translator, waiter Mazar Latif said Adil Iqbal had called him on June 2 last year to ask a favour.

Latif, aged 43, of Willows Lane, Deane, said Iqbal telephoned him to ask him to pick up a friend.

The pair drove around but could not find Iqbal’s friend, Bolton Crown Court heard.

They then parked the car in Manchester Road and Latif said they were approached by a girl who “willingly got in the car”. Latif said he then dropped Iqbal and the girl at a house in Daubhill and went home.

It is alleged Iqbal plied the girl with drink and drugs and raped her.

Latif told the court Iqbal called him again in the early hours of the next day and asked him to pick them both up.

It is alleged only the girl got back in the car and Latif then drove to a secluded spot and raped her.

But Latif said: “They both came and sat in the car.

“She did not look like she had had alcohol or been drugged.

They had sex in my car.”

Latif was arrested on June 4 after police spotted his Honda car.

Two months later, in August, a 13-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, allegedly went with a friend to a house where Iqbal was.

When he found himself alone with the girl, it is alleged Iqbal locked the door to the room, forced her to the floor and raped her.

Both men deny raping the 16-year-old girl and Iqbal, aged 25, of Anglia Grove, Daubhill, also denies raping the 13-year-old.

The case continues.