A LEGAL clerk became involved when his brother pressurised a pregnant assault victim to drop her complaint, a court was told.

The clerk allegedly dealt with a retraction statement said to have been on a forged document.

It is also claimed that a younger brother got into trouble by persuading the girl to drop charges in exchange for money, Preston Crown Court was told.

Imtiaz Adam, 28, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, who was a legal clerk at the time, his 24-year-old brother Asif, also of Preston New Road and Sarfraz Khan, 21, of Nottingham Street, Blackburn all deny committing an act intended to pervert the course of justice.

Khan also denies two other charges of intimidation and Imtiaz Adam one of forgery.

Tony Cross, prosecuting, said that in April last year Khan slapped pregnant 17-year-old Roxanne Clayton across the face.

The girl, who was nine months pregnant at the time, complained to the police and he eventually pleaded guilty to the assault.

The prosecution claimed that just two days after he was interviewed by police, Khan visited her at the YWCA in Blackburn and said he would break her legs if she did not withdraw her statement.

She was in considerable fear and because of threats she went with him to a solicitor's firm, Parker Pickles, in the town.

Mr Cross said the two were shown into the office of Imtiaz Adam who was a trainee solicitor at the time.

Once inside, both men spoke in a language she did not understand.

After about five minutes the trainee solicitor spoke to her for the first time, only to ask her name.

He asked her to sign a document at the bottom of a page which she did.

The prosecution alleges that the blank document was later filled out with false details, indicating that she wanted to retract her statement to police.

The prosecution against Khan was adjourned for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether to continue with the case. Mr Cross alleged that Khan continued to intimidate Roxanne Clayton.

The jury has also heard claims that last October Asif Adam tried to pervert the course of justice. After giving Miss Clayton and her friend a lift back from a nightclub, he said he was a good friend of Imtiaz Adam.

He made it plain she should drop the charges against Imtiaz Adam and she foolishly agreed to do so in exchange for money.

(Proceeding)