Disgraced former Labour peer Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham has been jailed for five years and six months for sexually abusing two children in the 1970s, BBC reported.

He was found guilty in January of a serious sexual assault against a boy and the attempted rape of a young girl.

The abuse happened in Rotherham when he was a teenager, Sheffield Crown Court heard, the report said.

Passing the sentence, Justice Lavender said his actions had had "profound and lifelong effects" on the victims, the report said.

Lord Nazir Ahmed jailed for child sex offences
Lord Nazir Ahmed jailed for child sex offencesIANS

The court heard Lord Ahmed, who was tried under his birth name Nazir Ahmed, attempted to rape the girl twice in the early 1970s, when he was aged 16 or 17 but she was much younger.

Chilling confessions by victims

The attack on the boy, who was aged under 11 at the time, also happened during the same period.

"I buried the abuse and carried it with me on my own for years and years. I feel shame because of what these men did to me. This is not about revenge, this is about justice," said a victim, who remained anonymous due to the seriousness of the crime. 

The female victim came to the witness box to share how she was scarred for life. 

"He is a paedophile who has no personal shame. But in the end, all tyrants fall," she said. Both victims have urged to see Lord Ahmed stripped of his title. They don't want him to use his title to impress anyone again. 

Justice
Mallet at court (Representational Picture)Piqsels

"The verdict, in this case, sends a clear message to offenders: no matter your power or your status, justice will be served, however long it is eluded. The fact Mr Ahmed is able to retain his peerage makes a mockery of our honours system. I urge the government to bring forward legislation to enable his title to be stripped from him," she said.

The judge said the offences were "so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified".

He said: "Your actions have had profound and lifelong effects on the girl and the boy, who have lived with what you did to them for between 46 and 53 years.

"The statements which they have made express more eloquently than I ever could how your actions have affected and continue to affect their lives in so many different and damaging ways", as per the report.

(With additional agency inputs)