Hasham Lodhi 41

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A man who claimed he had “spiritual healing abilities” abused his power to sexually abuse a teenage girl on multiple occasions.

Hasham Lodhi, 41, abused the girl at an address in Nelson and performed rituals where he would read passages from the Quran while she was naked to “cleanse” her.

Preston Crown Court heard the victim’s mother had initially approached Lodhi in March 2021 as she was led to believe he had healing abilities and could help people who believed they were victims of black magic.

Lodhi found out the victim was struggling at school and asked his wife, who had no part in the offending, to tutor her.

He persuaded the victim to send him naked photographs of herself.

Tobias Collins, prosecuting, said Lodhi would tell the victim she had “sinned” and that she “needed cleansing.”

On one occasion, he told the victim her “stomach was blocked” and that she “had evil inside her which needed cleaning out.”

Lodhi said that if she did not allow him to continue, or “break the circle” as he put it, she would end up in a car accident or her mother would be killed.

He told his wife, who was at home while the offending took place, that she would be affected by evil spirits if she did not stay in the bedroom while he carried out the acts.

In a statement summarised to the court by Mr Collins, the victim said she had suffered from flashbacks and insomnia since the incidents and had felt “powerless.”

She said: “I feel ashamed as he told me I was unclean and impure.”

Lodhi, now of Brennand Street, Burnley, was found guilty of four counts of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault at a trial in February.

His defence barrister, Emma Kehoe, said he did not accept the offences he was convicted of but did admit “unacceptable behaviour” towards the victim.

Judge Daniel Prowse, sentencing, said: “You were aware of how vulnerable she was, how much she feared the evil spirits you told her were affecting her, how much faith she could be persuaded to have in you.

“You were ruthless and exploited her vulnerability to allow you to sexually abuse her.

“She trusted you and believed you could help.

“You were able to use her spiritual and religious beliefs as a tool to abuse her. You perverted her genuinely held religious beliefs.

“You offending represents a gross abuse of the trust that young woman put in you. It was carefully planned and manipulative.

“I do not find your remorse is genuine.”

Lodhi was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for life.

An indefinite restraining order was also imposed between he and the victim.