Ex-religious teacher jailed for child sex assaults

Police said Hafez Ashraf Uddin's crimes had had a "long-lasting impact" on the girls

A 71-year-old former Islamic teacher has been jailed for 12 years for sexual assaults against children.

Hafez Ashraf Uddin, who worked in Ipswich, was found guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault, relating to six girls, aged between seven and 14, between 1985 and 1999.

Uddin, of Wivenhoe Road in Barking in east London, was convicted after a four-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court in June.

Det Insp Donna Hopper, of the force's south safeguarding investigation unit, said he "abused the respected position of trust he held in the community and subjected these young girls to shocking assaults – some of them on multiple occasions".

'Long-lasting impacts'

Uddin had been charged with 22 counts of indecent assault in total relating to seven girls, but was found not guilty for nine of them.

Police said some of the counts included multiple offences.

Uddin was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Officers said they had been working with partners to ensure anyone with concerns could access advice and support.

"These assaults have had long-lasting impacts on the victims, who did not feel able or confident to report them at the time for a number of reasons," added Det Insp Hopper.

"I hope this case demonstrates that despite the passage of time, it is never too late to achieve justice."

• BBC Action Line - Information and Support: Sexual Abuse and Violence