A pervert who pounced on a teenage girl in a Sikh temple and attempted to sexually assault her has been locked up for public protection.

After forcing the terrified 13-year-old victim into a storeroom at the temple in Gravesend, Gurpinder Ghuman told her: “I am not going to rape you.”

She only escaped from the 41-year-old convicted sex offender after screaming and struggling and telling him she would report him to the police.

Ghuman, of Northcote Road, Strood, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence and false imprisonment.

Under the extended sentence he will have to serve two thirds of the term before he can be considered for parole and will be on licence for a further two-and-a-half years.

The married father struggled and protested to the judge as he was led to the cells: “All my life I have been banged up. Why can’t you help me?”

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim and her family were attending a wedding at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Saddington Street in May last year.

The girl went to toilets to adjust her scarf when Ghuman approached her in the lobby and asked her to open a door for him while he fetched some boxes.

Prosecutor Francesca Levett said Ghuman then asked her to follow him into a storage room. Assuming he worked there, she agreed.

But he then closed the door and grabbed her around the mouth to keep her quiet.

She tried to scream and scratched his hand as she struggled.

“He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed his hands down towards her chest,” said Miss Levett. “She kept batting him away.

“She said: ‘You are in God’s house. What are you doing?’ She said she was going to call the police. He released her, which enabled her to leave.”

The victim told a woman what had happened. She was taken to her mother and described as being extremely traumatised.

Miss Levett said the effect on the girl and members of the temple was far reaching, causing great concern in the community because it was a place of worship and sanctuary.

The girl told in a victim statement how she felt she had done something wrong and considered suicide because she “didn’t want to live in a world where there are nasty people”.

“They were in a Gurdwara - in God’s house. She realised she was in danger in God’s house. It is apparent your intentions were sexual" - Judge Julian Smith

Ghuman had 11 convictions for 11 offences. He was convicted of indecent assault in 1995, jailed for two years under an extended sentence in 2004 for a similar offence and convicted of exposure in 2006.

Judge Julian Smith said of the latest offence: “What happened was very grave indeed. It is clear she suffered a shocking experience.

“They were in a Gurdwara - in God’s house. She realised she was in danger in God’s house. It is apparent your intentions were sexual.

“Your background is worrying. There is some clear planning and intention here.”

CCTV footage showed Ghuman “hovering and prowling” while targeting the victim.

“She has shown immense courage,” said the judge. “The impact is nonetheless immense.

“Your life is shattered. You present a serious risk of harm.”

A restraining order was made, banning Ghuman from going to any religious places.

A sexual harm prevention order was made and his name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for life.