A 12-year-old girl who became pregnant after being raped kept the secret from her family for months.

Eventually a relative suspected her condition and only then did the distraught schoolgirl tell about her ordeal.

Police launched a delicate investigation and prosecuted Ibrar Hussain after matching his DNA to that of the baby.

Yesterday a judge at Bradford Crown Court warned Hussain, 27, who is married with two young children, that he faced an "inevitable" prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to raping the girl.

Hussain assaulted the girl, who was a virgin, between December 2003 and February last year after luring her to the kitchen of his then home in Redcliffe Street, Keighley.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told police that, during the incident, Hussain had threatened her with a kitchen knife.

But prosecutor Mark McKone told the court that the basis of Hussain's plea of guilty contained a denial that he had used a knife. He added: "The prosecution take the view that there are already a number of aggravating features in this case and that it would not be right to invite the now 13-year-old complainant to give evidence to resolve the matter."

Detective Constable Ann Gee, of Keighley CID, who was in charge of the investigation, said: "He Hussain was a big man, 6ft 4in tall and well-built, and she was a tiny, petite, pretty little thing who looked her age.

"After the rape she was allowed to leave. She kept it a secret for several months until her pregnancy was noticed by a relative."

The girl was taken for medical treatment and, because of her age, social services were informed. They contacted police. The girl was interviewed on video but because of the time since the offence there was no medical evidence.

Hussain was arrested but denied there had been any sexual activity between him and the girl. Police obtained DNA samples from him, the victim and the baby and forensic tests confirmed he was the baby's father.

Hussain maintained his innocence, insisting sex had never occurred, until yesterday. He had been due to stand trial next week but, at the hearing for plea and directions before the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, he admitted the offence.

The judge said he was not prepared to sentence him without a report being obtained about him.

He told him: "I cannot pass sentence today given the nature of the offence. I require further information about you. A prison sentence is inevitable in this case and pending your sentence I remand you in custody."

Hussain will be sentenced on June 3.

Det Con Gee said the rape had had a devastating effect on both families. "His family, his wife and two young children are victims as well," she said "His wife reacted with total shock and disbelief.

"I hope to see a substantial prison sentence. He has no previous convictions and he has pleaded guilty prior to the start of the trial, but there is no getting away from the fact that his victim was 12 at the time of the offence."

The baby is now with foster parents and will be adopted.