The Charity Commission has opened an operational monitoring compliance case into Southwark Muslim Women’s Association, whose chief executive was jailed this week after being found guilty of sexual abuse against three girls under the age of 14.

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said the conviction had not been reported to the regulator by the charity.

"We have fixed a meeting with the trustees for later this month to discuss our concerns; namely, the issues surrounding the failure to report the incident and the reputational risk to the charity," she said.

Zafar Iqbal, 67, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court this week to seven and a half years in prison for sexual abuse against young girls.

He will be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Southwark Muslim Women’s Association is a charity operating in South London that aims to improve the quality of life for Muslim women, children and elders. It received funding from Southwark Council.