A PREACHER who slapped three children for giggling as they read the Koran in a mosque has been ordered to do unpaid community work.

Ghulam Sarwar, 44, was told by magistrates that he had abused his position of trust.

Sarwar, who has no previous convictions, was found guilty after a trial last month of three counts of common assault by beating.

Slapped

Manchester magistrates court heard he slapped two of the boys about the head with a flat hand and the other in the ear.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said a leaf had blown on to a copy of the Koran all three were supposed to be reading. One boy tried to smell it but it stuck to his nose, causing them to laugh.

Sarwar, of Avondale Street, Cheetham Hill, was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £930.

Henry Fenton chairman of the bench, said: "These were young victims, children. We see this as an abuse of a position of trust."

Ms Kenyon told the court that the mother of one of the boys complained to police in March after her son told her what happened.

Her husband had complained previously to another mosque about a similar allegation, the court heard.

Ms Kenyon said: "Both boys were video interviewed and both boys gave very similar accounts about what had occurred.

"They detailed that a leaf had blown onto a copy of the Koran. They started to laugh.

(Sarwar) came over to them and another child sat next to them. They were hit by a flat palm to the head. One was hit to the ear and the other two to the head."

The court heard Sarwar denied the allegations on arrest and told police he was aware of the law.

A victim impact statement from one mother was read out to the court.

Disgusted

In it she said: "I am disgusted.... the law in this country states that you cannot hit or injure a child.

"I was, and still am, frightened about getting the police involved but what sort of message would I be sending my children. I have to show them that they can trust their mother."

An appeal against Sarwar's convictions has been lodged.

Barry Cuttle, defending, said: "This is a man of absolutely excellent character.

"He reacted wrongly. He lost his temper, which he cannot do."