A PROMINENT East Lancashire community leader has launched an Appeal Court bid to clear his name of sex crimes against a young woman.

Janaid Qureshi, 62, was jailed for four years at Preston Crown Court in April after he was convicted of six counts of sexually assaulting the woman - more than 30 years his junior.

Qureshi, of Queen's Road, Blackburn, was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

He was awarded the MBE in 1999 for work in community relations.

When sentenced, the crown court judge told Qureshi he was a "manipulative liar", and commended his victim for her "immense courage" in coming forward.

But the married father-of-three is now battling to clear his name at London's Appeal Court, claiming that the jury's verdicts were "unsafe" and should be quashed.

His QC, Joel Bennathan, claimed the judge should have clarified key issues to the jury in his summing-up and his failure to do so "undermined Qureshi's case".

At the time of his arrest was chief executive of the Blackburn-based Ethnic Minority Development Association.

At the time of his arrest, he was also a board member of housing association Prospect Homes, which administrates Twin Valley Homes and Housing Pendle, a governor at Blackburn College, and a board member of the University of Central Lancashire.

After a short hearing Lord Justice Moore Bick, sitting with Mr Justice Jack and Judge Martin Stephens QC, reserved their judgment in the case.

The Appeal Court will not give its decision until the New Year, leaving Qureshi to face his first Christmas behind bars.

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