Kanpur: A priest was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by a local court for raping a 23-year-old woman here.

The fast track court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on Narendra Dikshit, a priest at Kherapati temple, special prosecutors KK Shukla and Kareem Ahmad said today.

According to prosecution, the convict raped the woman for around three years after promising to help her in finding a job.

The victim had filed a complaint against Dikshit on October 17, 2014 following which he was arrested.

The court yesterday found him guilty and dismissed his plea for mercy stating Dikshit misused his social stature as a priest.