Yang Qifa, a headmaster in Qianshan county, Anhui province, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping and molesting schoolgirls.

The sentence was passed on Tuesday morning in Qianshan county, Anhui province.

Yang was found guilty of raping and molesting 9 pupils in primary schools under his charge over the past 12 years.

His defense team said he would appeal the verdict.