‘The attitudes toward young girls which led to these offences has no place in a civilised society’
FEB 2014
Judge condemns ‘predatory’ behaviour of trio as he hands down lengthy sentences for the grooming and sexual exploitation of vulnerable schoolgirls
Three men who groomed and exploited vulnerable schoolgirls for sex were locked up for a total of 19 years this afternoon.
Sakib Ahmed, 19, and former taxi driver Shakil Munir, 32, were each given eight-year sentences while Ateeq Latif, 17, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for three years.
Judge John Walford told the three: “It is quite clear from all the evidence that you regarded these girls between the ages of 13 and 15 as objects for your sexual pleasure.
“In reality they were children who lacked the maturity or experience to cope with your manipulative ways.”
The court heard how the girls were massively affected by the sexual crimes, and were subjected to a “horrifying” amount of pressure and abuse.
They were called names like “white trash“, goaded at school and bombarded by abusive messages on Facebook.
The judge told the trio in the dock: “For some, their minds are in turmoil.
“They have been scared not only by what you did but by the reactions to them of members of your family and friends.
“The fact that the girls have been condemned, and not you, reveals a profoundly worrying attitude to what has gone on here; an attitude which, if not challenged, will lead to further cases like this in the future.
“The sort of attitudes toward young girls which led to the commission of these offences has no place in a civilised society.
“It is unacceptable for feckless young men to roam the streets at night seeking young impressionable young girls with only one objective in mind.
“This is behaviour which needs to be condemned.
“It’s equally unacceptable and deserving of condemnation for a taxi driver to abuse a position of trust which his employment gives him to take advantage of girls who get into his car.
“This was exploitative, predatory conduct.”
The judge said this was not a case of a trafficking network like others elsewhere in the country.
Ahmed, of Cambridge Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, previously admitted five offences of sexual activity with a child, concerning abuse of five schoolgirls.
“You were clearly obsessed by having sex with underage girls and you sought out every opportunity do that,” added Judge Walford.
“You were a lurking presence throughout the events with which this case in concerned, that cover a period of a little over six months.”
He locked up Ahmed for eight years and banned him from driving for six years.
SMunir, of Tollesby Road, Tollesby, Middlesbrough, was found guilty after a trial last December of four charges of sexual activity with a child and one of child abduction – offences against two girls.
The married taxi driver took a girl into his car in the early hours, drove her to an A19 layby and had sex with her after threatening to kick her out of the car
The judge told him: “It’s obvious from the evidence at the trial that you have a sexual interest in underage girls which has gone back for some number of years.
“You were ever on the lookout for opportunities to have sexual activity with girls.
“I regard what you did as an abuse of trust in your role as a taxi driver with the power over the occupants of your cab.”
He said Munir deleted contacts from his phone – a considerable number had been of young girls.
Munir groomed girls with explicit messages and free rides in his taxi.
Judge Walford jailed Munir for eight years and banned him from driving for eight years.
Latif, of Abingdon Road, central Middlesbrough, was convicted after trial on two counts of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
He left his nephew Ahmed alone with two girls, enabling him to have sexual activity with them in his car, after rides around Middlesbrough.
The judge said Latif played “an important and significant role” and gave “carefully scripted and surprisingly mature” evidence in the witness box.
“Anything other than a sentence of some length would in my judgment be an affront to the girls,” added Judge Walford, sending Latif to a young offenders’ institution for three years.
Three years will do nothing to deter them.- said Normal British Person
He still denied his crimes to a probation officer, though he said different in a letter to the judge.
All three defendants were made subject to sexual offences prevention orders.
The judge said he hoped the girls could be allowed to put the events behind them.
In a statement issued after the hearing, Gillian Milton, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) co-ordinator for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Those sentenced today were involved in the systematic sexual exploitation of six particularly vulnerable young girls.
“In spite of their vulnerability, the victims have shown significant courage throughout this trial and I would hope that today’s sentence brings them some measure of closure.
“Tackling this kind of abuse is a priority for all parts of the criminal justice system and the CPS are well equipped to build strong cases against those committing such offences.
“We also continue to work closely with police and other agencies to ensure that extensive support is provided for victims throughout the investigation and prosecution of such cases.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward report it to police.”
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/grooming-trial-judge-condemns-middlesbrough-6707567