A CHURCH leader who is on trial for sex assaults was paid up to £40,000 a year after tax and given round the world flight tickets, the jury have been told.

Falkirk Sheriff Court has been told the Agape For All Nations Church, which was run by Walter Masocha in Stirling, footed the bill for his wages and trips.

Mr Masocha, a former lecturer in accounting at Stirling University, told the jury yesterday that it was "normal" for members of the congregation to give "a couple of hundred pounds a month" but they were under no pressure to do so.

The church is a registered charity in Scotland, the court heard.

But the man who was known to his flock as Archbishop, The Prophet, The Apostle, The High Commissioner, and Daddy, said: "Nobody pays money by coercion, no-one is ever forced to pay money to the church."

Mr Masocha revealed the extent of his earnings at his trial where he is accused of sexually assaulting a 32-year-old mother of four.

He is also accused of engaging in sexual activity over a 12 month period with an under-age girl, who was between 14 and 15. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Yesterday a separate allegation that he sexually assaulted a young girl was struck from the charge sheet. The teenager told the jury she had made up the claims.

Cross-examined by depute-fiscal Alison Montgomery about his wealth in court, Zimbabwe-born Mr Masocha said members contributed to his pay and air fare via a 10 per cent levy of their income to the church.

It has some 2000 members worldwide.

In a service, which could last three hours, he said 30 minutes might be allocated to someone asking for "offerings".

The father of four said: "It is normal for people to give a couple of hundred pounds a month."

Asked by Ms Montgomery about what he knew of "deliverance", he said that some people demonstrated "funny behaviour".

He said: "They start acting in a violent way... you can tell there's something in them that's causing them to do that. Some people say they can feel things there in their bodies."

Earlier in the case, a 32-year-old alleged victim said Mr Masocha had kissed her passionately, touched her breast, put his hand down her dungarees, and groped her. When challenged he claimed to be looking for "demons".

Miss Montgomery asked: "Do you say you can see demons in people?" Mr Masocha replied: "No, I just pray, and whatever it is gets out of their system." He agreed that he had four security staff because when he went about "people want to cuddle me".

He also agreed that people in the church collected what Miss Montgomery called "your sweaty towels" after he had mopped himself while preaching. He claimed the practice followed an incident in the Bible when someone took St Paul's handkerchief.

Referring to his various titles, the fiscal depute asked: "Do you agree that some of these names you're called are quite sacred terms?" He replied: "Yes."

The prosecutor asked: "Have you created an environment where members of your church are treating you like a god?"

Mr Masocha replied: "No-one's ever claimed to see me as God. There's no way I can ever claim to be anywhere close to God."

Earlier, a 15-year-old girl retracted her claims about the church leader.

The witness, giving evidence from behind a screen, said she had made up the claims after she saw a website blog written by an earlier witness in the case, whom Mr Masocha is accused of sexually assaulting.

The trial before Sheriff Kenneth McGowan continues.