A married father-of-three who tried to rape a nine-year-old girl has been jailed for ten years.

Sick Akhter Syed Hasan accused the girl of lying to try to escape justice but admitted everything to a probation officer when found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court.

But the 44-year-old, of Montague Road, Southall, continued to maintain "that he thought she was enjoying it."

Jailing Hasan on Friday, Judge Jonathan Lowen said: "You fought this offence and alleged that this young girl had maliciously fabricated her account. You were disbelieved by the jury.

"What you did to that child has left her with on-going anxiety.

"You abused her trust in you as an adult.

"In your house she was vulnerable and you used your adult guile to conceal your true purpose. You gave her cake, hugged her and kissed her on the mouth and you used your adult authority to remove her and your clothing.

"You were a demanding man and this child had only the resources of her intelligence to rely on. She told you she could hear her father calling for her nearby and only then did you desist. Had it not been for her presence of mind, I have no doubt you would have continued with your purpose. You then threatened her not to reveal what you had done".

The judge decided that Hasan was not a danger to the public and that it was "an isolated impulse offence."

But he made an order that Hasan should never be allowed to work with children and would remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The youngster, now ten, had to give evidence through a video-link to a jury.

It was six months before she revealed what had happened through a remark to her mother.

Hasan who used to work at Heathrow in various jewellery shops, denied attempting to rape the child between June and September last year. He was found guilty following a four day trial last month.