A perverted elder at a Sikh temple was caught abusing a young girl on the building's new CCTV cameras.

Gurdial Singh, 32, denied molesting the girl in a computer room at the temple as there was another child in the room at the time

But the nine-year-old victim's story was backed up when other people at the temple in Wilbury Way, Hitchin viewed the recording.

Singh, an over-stayer in the UK from India, made no comment in police interviews after being told of the evidence. But when brought before the court he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault on a female aged under 13.

On Friday, six minutes of CCTV footage was played to Judge Barbara Mensah at Luton Crown Court.

Prosecutor Janette Hayne said: "The defendant had been living at the temple for two years and was a volunteer there. He was considered to be a holy man."

She said that on May 3 this year Singh, who was dressed in religious robes, lifted the girl up and carried her into the computer room where another young boy was working. He put her on his lap in front of the computer, placed one arm around her and another on the computer mouse, making it difficult for her to get off. He then touched the girl under her clothing.

The girl managed to move away, but Singh grabbed her again. He sexually molested the young victim while touching himself under his robes.

Bravely, the girl got away and told a member of her family who confronted Singh. He denied anything had gone on, using the boy who was in the room as an alibi.

Defence barrister Claire Langevad said Singh had been served with deportation documents and would not be contesting the prosecution's request for his deportation. She said he described his actions as "a moment of weakness" carried out when his wife was abroad.

Judge Mensah told Singh: "It was planned to a certain extent. It was deliberate and persistent and you used the other child in an attempt to cover up your conduct when she reported the matters.

"It is clear from the CCTV the girl was unhappy. It was a very grave breach of trust. You were respected as the holy man at the temple."

She jailed him for 18 months, placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, banned him from ever working with children and recommended that he is deported.