A CANCER victim who claimed chemotherapy had ruined his sex life faces jail — for having sex with a schoolgirl.

Sanjay Soni, who set up a fake Facebook account to chat to the girl, yesterday wept as a jury found him guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

During the six-day trial, Bolton Crown Court heard that Soni first met the girl when she was aged six or seven.

He was arrested after the girl, then aged 15, told a dance teacher at her school that she was having a relationship with an older man.

The 41-year-old communicated with her using a Facebook page he had set up under the name Lucy Lou, where they chatted about their future together, and discussed getting married and having children.

The jury heard in a police interview played in court that the girl believed Soni to be her boyfriend.

Soni had sex with the girl three times in April to December, 2013.

On the first two occasions, the court heard, he took her upstairs at his home in Faringdon Walk, Daubhill, undressed her and had sex with her. He also had sex with her on his sofa.

In the girl's police interview, she said she did not enjoy having sex with Soni, and that she did not really want to do it.

In December, 2013, the victim told her teacher that something was upsetting her, but she could not say what as it would "change the way the teacher thought of her".

The school called in the police the day after when she confirmed she was in a relationship with an older man.

Soni was arrested on December 20, 2013, and officers found an an iPhone and computer, which had naked images of the girl performing sex acts on herself, as well as a picture of his penis.

The jury was told that between June, 2012 and Soni's arrest, he had made 78 calls to the girl, which together lasted 14 hours, and they had exchanged 1,500 texts.

Soni claimed he could not have committed the offences because he had a testicle removed following chemotherapy treatment four years ago — before the offences took place.

He said that he had not been able to have sex with his partner since then.

He was also found guilty of inciting sexual activity with a child and possession of indecent images of a child.

Judge Timothy Stead denied Soni bail and adjourned sentencing until August 13.

He warned Soni that a custodial sentence was an "inevitability".

He said: "I am adjourning sentencing for reports to be made before the hearing on August 13. In the meantime you must remain in custody."

One count of grooming was ordered to lie on file.