A pair of Afghani asylum seekers have been jailed for five years and recommended for deportation for raping a 12-year-old girl.

Ghazi Khan and Malik Khan, who are not thought to be related, lied about their ages when they were arrested trying to claim they too were children.

But a judge at Swindon Crown Court on Friday said he was satisfied they were over 21 so should serve their time in an adult prison. Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said the victim who had a sadly troubled background' was meeting friends at The Malthouse pub in Trowbridge on the evening of Friday May 5.

"It was there that she met the first of these defendants, it is not entirely clear which," he said. "It was about 7pm and he first encountered her in an alleyway near the pub and she complains that he kissed her and put his hands down her trousers.

"He took her to his room in the public house and there he had intercourse with her. After that occurred the second defendant came to her and he too had intercourse with her."

He said that she was unhappy about what happened and reported matters after telling friends and family about what had taken place.

The Khans, both of the Malthouse pub, Roundstone Street, pleaded guilty to raping the child.

Charlotte Boaitey, for Ghazi, said reports from doctors and dentists in prison said her client, who has claimed asylum, was in his twenties but he claims to be just 19.

She claimed he thought the 12-year-old was actually 16 or 17 years old and that no force was used during the incident.

"He says he feels guilty by breaking his religious faith. He says all sex outside marriage is a sin," she said.

Mark Ashley, for Malik, said his client also thought the victim was over 16. Judge John McNaught said: "I am satisfied that you are both over 21. I accept there was no weapon used and no force but the very serious aggravating feature is that this girl was only 12." As well as jailing them for five years he recommended they be deported when they are released.