Man plied teen with cannabis before sex abuse
A MAN targeted an underage girl for his own “sexual gratification” before plying her with cannabis to facilitate sex abuse, a judge has said.
“Despicable” Sami Brek, who was more than 10 years older than his victim, tried to claim in court that the underage teenager was “throwing herself” at him.
The 33-year-old is now starting a five-year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the sex act was the “culmination of a pattern of grooming behaviour”, with Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC telling Brek he had “no doubt” he targeted the girl for his “own sexual gratification”.
He said: “The suggestion that she was in some way throwing herself at you – as said in the pre-sentence report – I’m afraid I’m wholly unimpressed by it.
“Children can behave in an inappropriate way sometimes, but more reason for you to treat them as what they are, which is a child. You knew that you were developing a sexual attraction for her.”
David Ward, mitigating, says Brek, of Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, has now admitted his guilt. “He did maintain his innocence initially, he has now accepted his offending,” he said.
His victim, however, still had to give evidence and go through the ordeal of a trial as his admission comes only after he was found guilty.
Mr Ward said Brek presents as a “pleasant and polite” man but is immature and had a very poor upbringing.
Brek appeared at court via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for the two sex offences as well as supplying a controlled drug, cannabis.
Recorder Enoch KC added: “However she was behaving towards you, whether she was apparently consenting or not, what you should have had
upmost in your mind at all times was that she was a child.
“This is not a case of fumbling teenagers, you were an adult.”
“You facilitated your sexual abuse of her by plying her with cannabis that made her less able to resist you when you decided to make your advances towards her.”
Brek was jailed for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for a period of 10 years. He will be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Cleveland Police Detective Constable Pulman said: “Sami Brek preyed on a teenage girl and groomed her, supplied her with drugs and engaged in sexual activity with her.
“He went on to deny the offences, which then put the victim through the ordeal of a full trial. The jury convicted him of all offences.
“I’d like to thank the victim in this case for her courage in reporting these crimes and being determined in continuing through the judicial process, resulting in today’s outcome.
“Thankfully, Brek can now no longer harm any other children and he will now spend a lengthy period behind bars for the horrendous offences he committed.”
This is not a case of fumbling teenagers, you
were an adult.
Recorder Enoch KC