THE ringleader of a gang who sexually abused a schoolgirl has been jailed for thirteen and a half years - and three other men have also been handed lengthy prison terms.

Nazakat Mahmood was handed his sentence at Reading Crown Court on Friday after a jury had previously convicted him of seven counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The 28-year-old, of Batchelors Way, Chesham, was identified as being the prime instigator of the abuse the girl - who was just 14 at the time - suffered over an eight month period.

Jurors were told Mahmood, along with 27-year-old Ghulfaraz Nawaz and 30-year-old Harron Rauf, forced the girl, who was often plied with alcohol, to perform sex acts on them and pressured her into having full sex on several occasions.

Nawaz, of Benham Close, Chesham, was caged for five and a half years after being found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child, while Rauf, of Drakes Close, Amersham, was jailed for a total of six years for his conviction for two counts of sexual activity with a child and one of assault by beating.

After the trio were arrested a fourth man, 26-year-old Omar Sharif, blackmailed the girl into having sex with him.

The court heard Sharif forced the girl to have sex with him in her pyjamas in a graveyard in the middle of the night.

Sharif, of Brockhurst Road, Chesham, was given an eight year prison term after being convicted of six counts of sexual activity with a child.

The men were found guilty of committing the offences in the Chesham area between December 2011 and July 2012 after a three week trial.

Prosecutors said all of the men had denied having any sexual activity with the girl or inciting it and claimed they believed she was at least 17 years old.

Investigating officer Det Con Natalie Golding said: "This was abuse of a young vulnerable girl in the most horrific way.

"All four men used this girl and then, when she had the courage to come to police, they denied the offences and continued to deny them.

"I want to thank the victim here for her bravery in coming forward and helping us to put these men behind bars.

"Hopefully this will go some way to showing other victims of sexual offences that we will listen to you and we will take you seriously."