AN Iraqi asylum-seeker was jailed for five years today after raping a schoolgirl in a park.

AN Iraqi asylum-seeker was jailed for five years today after raping a schoolgirl in a park.

Former police officer Shaban Ahmed handed his victim £10 after subjecting her to the sex attack.

Ahmed, whose partner gave birth to a baby girl two days ago, was told on the eve of his conviction that he could stay in Britain.

A judge told Ahmed, 34, at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You have been found guilty by a jury of the forcible rape of a girl who was only 15 years of age at the time."

Lord Brodie told him that there was no alternative but to jail him.

He said: "I accept that you are a person of previous good character who has succeeded in settling in Scotland over a period of years."

"You have established a stable relationship with your partner and obtained employment.

"These are factors in your favour."

Ahmed, of Lincoln Avenue, Knightswood, Glasgow, was earlier found guilty of raping the girl on June 18 last year.

He had denied the sex attack on his victim in Knightswood Park during which she was seized, pushed to the ground and had her trousers removed.

Ahmed had maintained that any sex with the girl was consensual.

The victim and a 14-year-old friend were walking around in Glasgow city centre when they encountered Ahmed and an acquaintance.

One of the men whistled at the girls and asked where they were going. Later they said they would take them in their car to get drink.

But they went to the park where Ahmed grabbed the girl and said "Come here." Minutes later her friend heard her scream.

She told the court: "I tried to get to my friend, but Ahmed's pal grabbed me and said: She'll be alright. He won't hurt her.'"

The girl said her friend later told her she had been raped. She added: "She was shaking. She was completely panicking and her hair was an absolute mess."

Defence solicitor advocate Richard Freeman said there was evidence to show that the girl had described herself as being 18.

Mr Freeman said of his client: "It is clear he still has the support of family and friends, all of whom consider this behaviour to be completely uncharacteristic."

He said Ahmed has previously worked as a policeman in Iraq and attained a rank similar to a sergeant.

But Mr Freeman said Ahmed had found life "impossible" in his native country and had felt forced to leave before arriving in Glasgow in 2000.

He said Ahmed sought asylum and his stay was confirmed the day before he was convicted of the rape.