A BRADFORD man has been locked up for eight years for a string of sexual offences.

Zahid Luqman was convicted at trial but continued to protest his innocence even as he was being sentenced at Bradford Crown Court.

The 46-year-old was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual activity with a child, plus sexual assault.

The court heard a statement on behalf of the victims in which they described how their lives had been impacted by Luqman’s behaviour and the resultant court case, which had been “particularly difficult to endure”.

They said the situation had been made worse by Luqman’s continued denials, which made them feel they were being called liars.

Mitigating, Rukhshanda Hussain said Luqman, who had no previous convictions, continued to deny the offences.

Appearing on video link from HMP Leeds and speaking via an interpreter, Luqman cried, held his head in his hands, and said: “This is all lies.”

He later said he accepted the jury’s verdict.

Sentencing Luqman, Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone jailed Luqman for a total of eight years with two-thirds to be served before being released on licence.

She imposed a sexual harm prevention order, and placed Luqman on the sex offenders’ register for life.