Locations
Browsholme Street, Keighley, BD21
Description
A man who groomed a teenage girl and had sex with her despite knowing she was underage has been jailed for seven years.
Shahzad Hussain, 27, of Browsholme Street, Keighley, will serve a further two years on licence after Bradford Crown Court ruled he posed a serious risk to the public. He must register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Hussain arranged to meet the girl via social media, lied about his age to hide the gap, and had sex with her on two occasions. He was convicted of six sexual offences, including two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, after a trial last November.
The victim’s father said the effects were “devastating and ongoing”, causing a “marked change in her confidence and personality” and leaving her with “persistent fear and anxiety, disturbed sleep and panic attacks”.
In mitigation, Hussain accepted the jury’s verdict and apologised to the victim and her family. His barrister, John Batchelor, said he recognised “the gravity of his offending”. He was previously of good character.
Sentencing him, Recorder Richard Paige said: “This was deliberate sexual activity with a child arranged through online contact.
“Between the two occasions you were expressly warned that [the victim was underage] and despite that warning you proceeded to meet her again to commit further sexual offences.
“That makes the second occasion more serious than the first.”
He imposed the extended sentence “to reflect dangerousness and the significant risk to members of the public of serious harm”, adding: “I am satisfied that you do pose such a significant risk … and that an extended sentence is necessary for public protection.”