Maninder Pal Singh Kohli this afternoon claimed to have been kidnapped by three men on the evening he is alleged to have raped and murdered Hannah Foster.

Kohli told a jury at WInchester Crown Court that he was bundled into a car by two white men who demanded money from him.

The trial has heard that Kohli owed his boss James Dennis a five figure sum.

Kohli said the men told him to pay £25,000 within four days or they would shoot him.

Questioned by his counsel Abbas Lakha QC Kohli described how he had visited The Mitre pub in Portswood, claiming to have left at around 11.30pm to go home to Broadlands Road in Portswood.

He said: "I just came out and crossed to where my van was. Before I got there a car came, black or dark blue.

"It stopped behind the van, as I approached a white male came out from a left hand side of the car.

"He put his hand on my neck and said 'get in the car, we want to talk to you.'

"I was shocked, I little bit resist, at same moment another man came out and he put something on my back and said 'don't say anything, I will give you a big harm.'

"They bundled me into the back seat of the car. I had only a little glimpse because they turned me towards the back of the seat. I said 'why are you doing this to me? I'm going home.

"My kids are waiting for me.'

"They said: 'better if you keep listening to us.'

Kohli said that both men were white and the driver had curly hair and was of mixed race.

He continued: "As soon as I was thrown on the seat they drove off. One put his knee in my back and another sat on my legs. They pulled my arms back and tied my arms.

"Then they tied my eyes, blindfolded me. I was pleading them 'I'm asthmatic. I can't breathe, I'm suffocating.'

"I kept asking them what they wanted and they said 'better if you listen to us.'

"There was English music in the car. "After a few minutes the car stopped, the door opened and shut and they drove off again.

"I asked them, I was pleading with them then they said 'do you owe money to someone.'

"I said 'yes, Jim Dennis. I told him he would get money from the sale of my home.'

"They asked how much profit I would make. I said 'nearly forty grand.'

"They asked 'when' and I said 'the money would come on the 18th or the 21st.'

"But I knew I'm not getting it on the 18th but I said it because I wanted to get out of there.

"They said they wanted twentyfive grand by the 18th otherwise 'we will shoot you.'"

Kohli, 41, denies the abduction, false imprisonment, rape and murder of 17-year-old Hannah.