AN evangelical church leader was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday after being convicted of sexual assaults against his loyal followers.

Pastor Douglas Goodman preyed on members of his congregation of young women worshippers to satisfy his lust.

Gerald Gordon, a judge at the Old Bailey, told him: ''You have no doubt been a charismatic pastor to whom your loyal flock were utterly and blindingly loyal.

''Because of your position as pastor and your total hold on your congregation, some members of your congregation may have felt duty-bound to submit to your sexual demands. You built the church up but it is you who brought it down now.''

He sentenced Goodman, 47, former head of the Victory Christian Centre, in Kilburn, north London, to two years for indecent assault, six months for attempted indecent assault, and 12 months for perverting the course of justice.

Goodman, of Turnberry Lane, Collingtree, Northampton, had denied 14 charges involving four women. He was convicted of four charges on Thursday but the jury, which cleared him of two indecent assaults, could not agree on the others.

The father of four who ran the church with his wife Erica, was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

He left school at 15 and worked as a bus driver before building the VCC into ''one of the most powerful black churches in Europe''.

Courtenay Griffiths QC, defending, said Goodman had lost his reputation and his position as head of the church.

Outside the court, Detective Sergeant Simon Smith praised four women, aged 17 to 32, who came forward to complain about the pastor.

Goodman assaulted the women before the church was closed by the Charity Commission in December 2002 amid allegations of his misappropriating funds. The police Fraud Squad are investigating the loss of a reported (pounds) 7m.