A FORMER Burger King manager has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a girl and 16 counts of sexual assault over a period of seven years.

Ehmad Alguet, 44, of Esmonde Way in Canford Heath, Poole, was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two on each of the 17 counts by the jury at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday.

The jury took eight hours of deliberation to reach their verdict.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC said Alguet had "habitually committed indecent assaults" on the victim.

The 16 sexual assaults were specimen charges, and Alguet's behaviour had been covert.

"This repulsive and disgusting behaviour culminated in an act of rape when she was 14," the judge said.

He said Alguet also had a "perverted obsession" with internet websites showing sexual activity with young girls.

Alguet's behaviour was also contrary to Islam, which he professed to follow, said the judge in court.

Earlier in the trial, Alguet, who has no previous convictions, had broken down in tears on the stand as he denied abusing and raping the girl.

He also told the court he had looked at illegal porn sites because he was trying to trace missing toddler Madeleine McCann.

The judge sentenced Alguet to 10 years for the count of rape and three years for the other 16 counts and said Alguet would serve half the term in prison and the remainder on licence, and will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The judge thanked the jury, prosecution and defence and translator for their work, and asked for his thanks to be passed to the officers in the case.