Rape imam is jailed for 10 years

Hussain said he left the mosque before the assaults took place

A former Muslim cleric has been jailed for 10 years for raping and sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in a mosque where he was teaching.

Manzoor Hussain, 42, of Ashley Road, Bristol was convicted of one offence of rape and four of indecent assault.

The offences took place at a mosque in the city between July 1996 and March the following year.

Hussain had denied the charges at Exeter Crown Court. The jury returned a majority verdict on the charges.

Judge Graham Cottle told Hussain: "You have been convicted by the jury of a number of extremely serious offences.

"In the context of this case and in view of the background to it this was an appalling breach of trust."

There must be a substantial custodial sentence to reflect society's view of what you did to her Judge Graham Cottle

The court heard that at the time of the offences Hussain was the imam at the mosque in Lower Cheltenham Place.

"You were an elder in the community and a man to be revered and respected by children you taught," said Judge Cottle.

"In a gross breach of the trust placed in you, you sexually assaulted the girl over nine months, culminating in an offence of rape.

"At the start of this catalogue of sexual abuse she was 12-years-old. She was just 13 when you raped her.

"There must be a substantial custodial sentence to reflect society's view of what you did to her."

Hussain had told the court he was not teaching at the time the offences were committed, having left the mosque a month before the first assault was carried out.