GMP worker sent sexual messages to ‘girl, 12’

PERVERT WAS TALKING TO COVERT OFFICER

A GREATER Manchester Police staff member believed he was sending vile sexual messages to a 12-year-old girl – but was rumbled by an undercover officer.

Abdul-Bari Shafiq, from Rochdale, was employed by GMP as an apprentice in the force’s operation communications branch.

But last October, it came to light that he had been engaging in online communication with who he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, when in fact he was engaging with a covert officer.

Shafiq, 21, was arrested on October 29 last year and suspended by the force the following day, before his 12-month contract came to an end on March 28.

He was subsequently charged in July with two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual communication.

Shafiq, of Rooley Street, pleaded guilty to the offences on his first appearance at Manchester magistrates court on August 23.

He was sentenced at Manchester

Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday – exactly a year on from his arrest.

Shafiq was handed a 15-month suspended sentence over two years. He has also been subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, and will be added to the sex offenders register for five years.

He is also subject to a barring notice, 150 hours of unpaid work and a victim surcharge of £156.

In a statement issued following the sentencing, GMP said that its professional standards branch conducted the criminal and disciplinary investigations, and a misconduct proceeding will now take place.

Detective Constable Dominic Brady, from GMP’s Professional Standards Branch, added: “Officers used specialist covert tactics to uncover Mr Shafiq’s deplorable crimes, and thankfully were able to intercept him before he caused significant harm.

“We are pleased he is now being held accountable and punished for his crimes and I hope this sends a message to anyone who is committing these crimes that we will seek to track you down and bring you to justice.”