Pair jailed thanks to bravery of the girls they abused
PRAISE FOR YOUNG VICTIMS IN ‘HARROWING’ CASE
A SENIOR police officer who led an investigation into the sexual exploitation of teenage girls has praised the victims’ bravery in what he described as “harrowing and lifechanging experiences”.
The case was painstakingly pieced together by a team of detectives over many, many months to bring to justice the perpetrators of the offences.
After trial, Waqas Akhtar, 26, of Glentworth Road, Bobbers Mill, was found guilty of sexual activity with a girl under 16 - offender 18 or over; sexual activity with a girl under 16 offender 18 or over; two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming.
Yesterday, he was jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years, given a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He will be barred from working with children.
Judge John Burgess told him he was convicted of five offences against a 14-year-old girl.
He said: “You took advantage of her vulnerability to satisfy your own lust.”
Mohammed Saeed Ahmed, 22, of Vale Crescent South, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to four charges before the trial started – two counts of sexual activity with a child, one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and another of sexual communications with a child.
The sexual activity with a child concerned a 15-year-old girl. The other three charges related to a girl who was 14.
He was jailed for three years, of
which he will serve half, and the remainder on licence. A restraining order was made preventing contact with the two girls, he was barred from working with children and is required to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Jamie Hill, of Nottinghamshire Police’s sexual exploitation investigation unit, said of the victims: “I want to praise their absolute bravery in relation to what I can only describe as harrowing and life-changing experiences that they have had.”
The offences took place in Nottingham city centre and related to girls who were aged 13 to 15 at the time.
Police began an investigation into the men in September 2018 after concerns were raised about their behaviour by various agencies.
Detectives spent 12 months gathering enough evidence to arrest the men and executed a series of warrants on the same day in March 2019.
A “treasure trove” of digital evidence took many months to process, but was absolutely fundamental to the men’s convictions.
DI Hill added: “This was a complex and long-running investigation involving dozens of detectives. As is often the way with reports of child sexual exploitation, this case started not with a complaint by the victims, but by the very grave concerns of other people.
“Our challenge was to support the victims to fully understand the crimes that had been committed against them, and help them to give evidence of those crimes in a way that helped secure convictions. In this regard, I would like to pay tribute to the victims.
“The impact incidents of this nature have on victims and their families is unimaginable and we will always do everything in our power to support victims and bring offenders to justice.
“These incidents, while rare, are incredibly shocking and it takes immense strength for victims to come forward and share their traumatic experiences. I’d like to commend the victims in this case for the evidence they provided that helped lead to today’s outcome.”
Chief Constable Craig Guildford praised the work of all the officers involved, as well as the work of council workers involved in the case - including the Director of Integrated Children’s Services, Helen Blackman, who passed away recently after suffering complications from Covid.
He added: “This was an exemplary investigation by a team of detectives who were relentless in their quest to get justice for these victims.
“I am immensely proud of what they have managed to achieve but I am also acutely aware that these verdicts are also thanks to the hard work and dedication of dozens of other people outside of the police.
“I would especially like to pay tribute to the Child Safeguarding Team at Nottingham City Council, who worked so tirelessly with the victims – supporting them, listening to their concerns and convincing them to give evidence in this case. In particular I would like to pay tribute to the work of Helen Blackman, who passed away so tragically earlier this month.”
Nottingham City Council’s Corporate Director for People, Catherine Underwood, said: “We worked closely with the police on this case to bring these perpetrators to justice. Survivors have been incredibly brave and the wider community very helpful in achieving this outcome.
“There can be nothing more important than the protection of children from abuse and as this case shows, we work tirelessly with the police and others to do just that. Abusers need to know – there’s nowhere to hide and you will be caught.
“If anyone is concerned about the welfare of a child or young person please contact our Children & Families Direct Team on 0115 876 4800.”