'Despicable' duo jailed over abuse

ZABED SHAH

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A MAN who sexually assaulted a young girl after plying her with drugs and alcohol has been jailed.

Zabed Shah (27), of Hancock Close, Oldham, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on Thursday at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual assault on a child, attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child and supplying Class A drugs.

Abdul Latif (30), of Oundle Close, Oldham, was also jailed for 27 months after admitting supplying Class A drugs.

The court heard how in December, 2015 a 14-year-old girl reported to officers that she had been taken to a hotel in Manchester by two older men.

She was with a 13-year-old friend at the time of the offence and they were given alcohol before Shah sexually assaulted her.

Oldham's Phoenix officers - who work with agencies to safeguard vulnerable young people - began investigating and a week later a 15- and 16-year-old girl were reported missing to the police.

The team received information that Shah was back at the same Manchester hotel he had taken his victims to previously.

Police officers attended the scene and found Shah and Latif with the two missing girls who were both under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Shah will have to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years as part of his conviction.

PC Andy Barratt, from Oldham's Phoenix team, said: "Shah preyed on vulnerable young girls fuelling them with drink and drugs before trying to sexually exploit them whilst Late encouraged his behaviour and stood by and watched.

"Both men deserve the sentences they were handed today and I hope the people of Oldham now feel safer knowing these despicable men are off the streets.

"Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate any form of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and we, along with our partners, will always offer our support to victims and investigate all reports fully.

"I would like to praise the victims for their bravery in reporting this and helping officers put these men behind bars."

Project Phoenix is a multi-agency response to CSE across the whole of Greater Manchester which brings together police, local authorities, NHS and third sector organisations, using their collective expertise to safeguard vulnerable young people at risk of exploitation and target those who would try to exploit them.

Visit itsnotokay.co.uk for information for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals on how to spot child sex exploitation and what to do about it.