A taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl as she travelled home at night.

Iqbal Ahmed committed the offence while allegedly telling the girl some passengers paid him with sexual favours.

The 16-year-old told how he touched her leg several times during a journey to Sutton-at-Hone, near Dartford.

Ahmed, of Royal Road, Sidcup, denied the offence, but was convicted by a 10-2 majority.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim had been to a party and was travelling home with five friends on September 30 last year.

She sat in the front seat next to Ahmed, who was working for Swantax Taxis in Swanley.

Prosecutor Gary Pons said one of the friends jokingly asked how people got out of paying their fare and Ahmed, 39, replied that on occasions they had sex with him.

He put his hand on the girl’s leg. She was wearing shorts with tights underneath. She told him: “Don’t touch my leg.”

The others were dropped off in Swanley and the teenager continued alone to her destination.

“En route, he asked questions that were increasingly more personal and inappropriate,” said Mr Pons. “He asked if she had a boyfriend. He asked her if she was a virgin.

“He again put his hand on her leg. She told him to take it off. He put it back again. He described how people would pay him for fares with sexual favours.

“He was hinting she could avoid paying her fare with a sexual favour. She told him he was disgusting. She asked if he had a wife. He said he did.”

At the end of the journey, the teenager paid her £10 fare and Ahmed’s parting shot was: “Good on you for not sleeping around.”

On arriving home she told her sister what happened and the police were contacted.

She texted a friend, declaring: “Most terrifying taxi journey ever. Asking me if I was a virgin. It was really uncomfortable.”

Ahmed claimed the group was rowdy and wanted a discount. He denied there was any sexual talk or any physical contact with the girl.

He was suspended from the cab firm after his arrest.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens granted bail and adjourned sentence for reports until after September 2.