Perth man jailed for sex attacks

Farooq Hussain had denied he had sexually abused the girls

A Perth man who sexually abused teenage girls has been sent to jail for three years and nine months.

Farooq Hussain, 56, who was a prominent member of the local Muslim community, faces an additional 30 months on licence once he leaves prison.

He had denied attacking the girls, aged 14 and 15 at the time, but was found guilty at Perth Sheriff Court.

Hussain, a married father-of-three, was also well-known in the area for his charity work and restaurant business.

The court heard that Hussain's abuse spanned a five-year period.

He sexually abused a 15-year-old girl at the Al Farooq restaurant he owned in Perth city centre on 26 November 2002.

Then last year he indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl on two separate occasions.

When she told him she was going to the police he said: "Do you know what this will do to me? You will ruin my life."

Jailing Hussain, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him he took into account that he had tried to blacken his young victims' names.

He had charitable works and his position in the community. That has been lost and can never be recovered Solicitor David Holmes

He said: "You were convicted, in my opinion, on the clearest and most compelling evidence. As a result of going to trial the two girls were required to give evidence.

"You not only required your victim to give evidence but you attempted to give an innocent explanation for what happened.

"You did that by besmirching the character of your victim by accusing her of behaviour inappropriate for any female, but particularly for a female of her age."

Hussain had claimed that his DNA was found on saliva taken from one of the victim's because she had lifted her top and pushed herself against him.

Sheriff Foulis said: "The jury found you guilty of three charges which are of an extremely serious nature. They involved indecent assaults by you - a man in your fifties - on girls in their early to mid-teens."

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, had presented a large bundle of testimonials to the court from people praising Hussain's charity and Muslim community work.

He said: "He had charitable works and his position in the community. That has been lost and can never be recovered.

"There is an extraordinary list of good deeds to put before the court. He has, throughout his life, attempted to embrace all cultures."

Outside court, the father of one victim said he was pleased with the sentence and was happy the sheriff and jury had "seen through his lies".