A RELIGIOUS leader from Netherton carried out a string of sickening sex attacks on a young girl going back 30 years, a jury has been told.

Hifiz Rahman was the Imam at a Dudley mosque when he started grooming his victim when she was just eight-year-old.

The sex attacks began in 1984 and they went on for four years, alleged Antonie Muller, prosecuting, but Rahman was not arrested until last year when he was based at a Cradley Heath mosque .

He said that because of his role at the mosque Rahman was a person of high standing in the Muslim community but he developed a sexual interest in the victim.

Mr Muller said: β€œHe began to groom her. He treated her differently from other pupils who attended the mosque.

"He gave her private lessons, she was isolated and he then took advantage of the situation.”

He said Rahman started to compliment the schoolgirl and he then began to touch her and stroke her hair before starting to carry out the sex attacks.

She did not tell anyone about what happened because of his standing in the community and tried to get on with her life.

But the actions of Rahman preyed on her mind and they affected her relationship with a boyfriend, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

She ended up living with her brother who learned about the abuse and it was not until 2012 that she finally made a complaint to the police.

It took time to trace Rahman, said Mr Muller, but ironically it turned out he was teaching at a mosque in Cradley Heath.

He was arrested and in interview he told police officers he could not remember the girl, he stressed no young girl had ever been in his private rooms and he maintained there had been no sexual abuse.

Rahman, aged 56, of Ballard Road, has pleaded not guilty to a total of eight charges involving indecent assault and indecency with a child.

His trial in front of a six man-six woman jury is expected to end next week.