A London imam has been jailed for sexually assaulting multiple women and girls over an 11-year period by convincing them he possessed supernatural healing powers.

Abdul Halim Khan, a faith leader based in Tower Hamlets, east London, targeted victims as young as 12 years old. The attacks were carried out after Khan told victims they needed "curing" from "bad spirits" and claimed his powers could treat serious illnesses including cancer.

The BBC spoke with two of Khan's victims about their experiences during the prolonged period of abuse. Court proceedings revealed that Khan exploited his position as a respected religious figure to gain the trust of vulnerable women and girls in the community.

The case highlights concerns about the exploitation of religious authority and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals through claims of spiritual healing. Khan used his perceived supernatural abilities as a pretext to carry out the sexual assaults against his victims.

The conviction comes after what authorities described as a complex investigation spanning multiple years. The full extent of Khan's sentence and the specific charges he faced were not detailed in available court records.

The case has raised questions about safeguarding measures within religious communities and the need for greater awareness of how positions of spiritual authority can be exploited to harm vulnerable individuals.