A FATHER-of-four who led a secret life as a "sexual predator" targeting teenage girls has been jailed for three years.

Salim Mulla, 42, of Ripon Street, Audley, Blackburn, told a 12-year-old and her cousin that they could win a computer or cash if they answered his sordid telephone "quiz" questions.

And he enticed the 12-year-old girl into his car and kissed her on the neck after telling her he was lost and needed directions.

Mulla was a respected member of the community and a local councillor, also called Salim Mulla, gave him a reference at Preston Crown Court.

But the court heard that there had been several previous allegations of sex pest phone calls against the defendant.

And he was jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault and inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activities.

Mulla, a car salesman, targeted the 12-year-old for his "own sexual gratification" after speaking to her on the telephone, the court was told.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Insp Ian Critchley, who led the investigation, said: "Mulla's actions were predatory and sexually motivated and were committed over a period of time where there was a clear identification of young victims.

"The offences will have a lifelong impact on the family, especially the girl."

And Judge Michael Byrne, sentencing Mulla, said: "This is a very worrying case for a number of reasons.

"Firstly, she was stranger to him. Secondly, the defendant's contact was premeditated, persistent and determined and, thirdly, I am quite satisfied the purpose of this contact was for his own sexual gratification.

"I read carefully the references from family, members of the local community, a councillor and friends who spoke of him as an upstanding member of the community.

"This conviction highlights a serious breach of the trust and he poses a significant risk to girls."

The court was told that on June 4 last year Mulla persistantly rang a Blackburn shop where the girl and her cousin were staying.

He made eight phones calls with two of them lasting more than 15 minutes.

The court was told that it appeared he had obtained the phone number from the shop front.

He initially spoke to the cousin, telling her that she could only win the competition if she was on her own while they chatted.

Rowena Goode, prosecuting, said: "He began to ask her about her relationship with boys, whether she watched dirty programmes on the television and questions about her private parts.

"She was then told by the defendant to touch herself. At that point she became upset and put the phone down."

But Mulla called back and spoke to the 12-year-old girl.

Mrs Goode said: "He then went through similar questions and progressed to suggesting sexual activities.

"The defendant then told her to take off her clothes"

Shortly after, Mulla left his home in search of the girl, encouraged by her apparent compliance to his requests, said Mrs Goode.

However, she added, the girl was not actually performing the acts requested by Mulla, but pretending to do so.

Mrs Goode said Mulla managed to find the girl and get her into his car on the pretence of needing directions.

She added: "The defendant then kissed her on the neck and she left the car."

The court was told phone calls of a similar nature had been made from Mulla's landline in 2000 and 2002 and from his mobile in May 2005 which, on one occasion, prompted the police to speak to him.

Keith Harrison, defending, said Mulla denied making the landline calls and the 2005 incident was a "one off."