He was later convicted of five counts of sexual activity but on Monday he was given a 40-week sentence suspended for two years after a court heard he was on benefits with a family reliant on him.

Preston Crown Court was told Maknojioa had been employed by the children’s parents in 2012 to teach them about the Islamic faith up to three times a week at their home in Lancashire.

Problems began in September of that year after the girl and her brothers started tuition in their living room. The abuse lasted around nine months. The court heard that during the lessons Maknojioa began touching the girl’s arms and head, then moved to the legs, feet, chest and thigh.

She told the jury: “I did not want it, but I was too afraid to say something. My brothers asked me what he had been doing and I didn’t know how to describe it. I told them he had touched me up.”

The girl’s father later confronted Maknojioa but he denied all the charges. He was found guilty after a trial.

In mitigation, Frida Hussain said: “This is a man who doesn’t pose any risk to his children. He has problems with his kidneys and is due to go back into hospital for a further follow-up operation.

“He is married with six children, that family unit depends on him. His wife doesn’t work and speaks very little English, they are dependent on him to lead their lives and with the running of the household.”

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Byrne told Maknojioa: “There could be no greater recognition of trust than between a minister of religion and pupils whose care is entrusted to him by parents.

“You breached that trust deliberately and repeatedly. I bear in mind that social services conducted their own assessment and found that you do not pose a risk. You are now unemployed, living on state benefits.”

Maknojioa will be under supervision for two years and made subject of a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years.