A Muslim tutor from Leicester who fondled a young girl as she read the Koran to him has been jailed for 30 months.

Yusuf Mangera, 56, was convicted of six counts of indecent assault after a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Mangera, of St Barnabas Road, North Evington, indecently assaulted the girl, now a married woman, over a period of around two years in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He was employed as a Hafiz, or tutor, visiting the family home after the girl's father decided he wanted his children to learn to read the Koran, the court heard.

His victim described in a statement, read out at yesterday's sentencing hearing, how the assaults left her feeling suicidal.

She said: "I experienced a deep sense of dread at his visits. I would curl up, hug myself, I would hope and pray that he wouldn't come.

"I desperately wanted to tell someone but I didn't dare.

"I found myself repelled by physical contact. I didn't want to be touched by anyone."

During the trial, she said Mangera began by touching her knee under the Koran as she read but became more bold, touching under her clothes then inside her underwear.

She finally decided to report the matter to police last year.

At yesterday's hearing, prosecutor James Hett said the woman took an overdose of pills when she was 12, and at 15 was overcome by feelings of anger against the world.

Felicity Gerry, in mitigation, told the court Mangera still maintained his innocence and had no previous convictions.

The court heard that references had been sent about his good character from business leaders, community leaders, friends, family and pupils from across the world, describing him as "devout and pious" and a "valued community man".

Sentencing him to a total of 30 months, Judge David Price told him: "The offences were aggravated by the fact that in your culture and religion the mere touching of a young female who is not a member of your family is thought to be wrong and shameful."

The judge said there was an element of "grooming'' in the events and banned him from working with children.