Child rapist Faraz Ali jailed for five years Published duration 21 October 2015

image copyright CIARAN DONNELLY

A child rapist who attacked a five-year-old girl and subjected a schoolboy to an ordeal of sexual abuse has been jailed for five years.

Faraz Ali carried out the rape of the girl at a house in Edinburgh in 2013.

Ali, 27, also sexually assaulted the boy when he was under the age of 10 at addresses in Midlothian and East Lothian, exposed himself and raped him.

The sexual assaults on the boy happened on various occasions up to 2013.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Ali continued to maintain he was innocent of the sex crimes.

Public protection

However, judge Lord Glennie told him: "You have been convicted of two very serious sexual offences against young children, one male, one female.

"I know you continue to deny the charges against you. That is your right. But I must sentence you on the basis that the jury found you guilty."

Lord Glennie told Ali, formerly from Holytown, in Lanarkshire, that a custodial sentence was inevitable for such offending, for the protection of the public and to "send out a message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated".

The judge told the first offender he had noted his previous good character. He said he took account of the fact that Ali had co-operated with the police in further investigations.

Defence counsel Wendy Hay said Ali was "frankly devastated" at the situation he found himself in appearing before the judge for sentencing.