Far right groups are exploiting the conviction of nine men who were part of a child grooming ring to create a "climate of hate" against Muslims, community leaders have warned.

Muslim groups say they have seen an upsurge in hate mail and abusive phone calls since the trial ended this week and community leaders are bracing themselves for more Islamophobic attacks on individual Muslims and mosques across the UK.

"We are already receiving hate mail and hate phone calls even though we issued a very strong statement condemning those involved," said a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain. "If it can happen to MCB you can just imagine what ordinary Muslims are facing as they go about their day-to-day business."

Eight of the nine men convicted at Liverpool crown court for their involvement in a gang that sexually exploited young girls were of Pakistani heritage, and Muslim groups say far right organisations such as the British National party and the English Defence League have used the trial to demonise and abuse the entire community.

Fiyaz Mughal, from Faith Matters, which has set up a new helpline to monitor anti-Muslim attacks, said the Islamophobic hatred prompted by the case had added to the "poison" against Muslims.

"This is dangerous for community relations," he said. "There's lots of discussion about 'Muslim paedos', like saying the prophet married a young girl. All of this disgusting talk is adding to the poison against Muslims."

The helpline, Tell Mama, was launched at the same time as the trial began in February and is the UK's first for those wanting to report Islamophobia and record anti-Muslim attacks. "About 20% of the cases so far are linked to EDL [through perpetrators identified as EDL members or self-identifying as such] and about half of those cases are online activity where there is invariably a mention of 'Muslim paedos'," said Mughal.

Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, who has held talks with EDL representatives in the past, said: "There's a climate of hate in relation to this ? We need to tackle the problem but people within the BNP, the EDL are increasing the rhetoric ? It does have an adverse effect within the city ? I am sure it will build within the next few weeks."

Security outside Liverpool crown court, where the nine men were tried, was stepped up after hundreds of English Defence League and BNP protesters picketed the building. The trial was almost derailed when the British National party leader, Nick Griffin, tweeted that seven verdicts had been reached. One of the defendants has now launched an appeal claiming Griffin's tweet showed jury confidentiality was breached. The beginning of the trial was also delayed for a fortnight in February when two Asian defence barristers were attacked outside the courtroom.

The latest surge in Islamophobic abuse comes amid concern that the failure of the BNP in recent elections will see some smaller groups turning to more violent street action. There have been a growing number of attacks on anti-racists and trade unionists as well as rising hostility to Muslims.

The MCB spokesman said Muslims were used to "low-level hatred". "People expect that nowadays, from their fellow travellers on the underground or buses," he said. "That sort of thing happens all the time." But he said communities were bracing themselves for more serious attacks following the publicity surrounding the grooming trial. "The graffiti on the door of a home, mosques and community centres attacked, a pigs head through the door ? it is bound to increase because the racist are waiting for opportunities like this."