Girls’ sex attackers spared prison

Parents’ outrage at sentence

THE parents of a 13-year-old schoolgirl have reacted with fury after two Oldham men, who sexually assaulted the youngster as she queued to ride Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s Big One rollercoaster, walked free from court.

Drunken Asad Mahmood (19), and Haqnawez Razzaq (27) groped the girl and two of her friends, telling them that they had condoms.

Despite the girls saying they were only 13 and on a school trip, the pair persisted in trying to get their names and phone numbers and continued the assault as they sat behind one of the girls on the ride.

But yesterday, as the pair were sentenced at Preston Crown Court, Judge Michael Byrne declared that neither of them “is a predatory paedophile that preys on young girls”.

Mahmood and Razzaq each pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on three different girls.

Mahmood, of Queens Road, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, and to pay £300 to his two victims.

Deterrent

Razzaq, of Brompton Street, Glodwick, was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, with supervision for two years, and was also ordered to pay £300 to his two victims.

Mahmood and Razzaq were also ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for seven and five years respectively.

However, the parents of one of the victims were outraged at the sentence.

Speaking outside court, the parents, who can not be identified for legal reasons, said: “This is no justice for my daughter. A community order is no deterrent. All that was being talked about was helping the defendants.

“The victims in this case never got heard. It was all about the criminal. These were three 13-year-old girls and they have had this hanging over them for 18 months.

“My daughter had nightmares for weeks after this because it took so long for them to even be charged. She has changed in her mannerisms. She shouldn’t have had to go through this. We feel very bitter at the sentence.

“If they had been jailed then we would have felt justice had been done. We don’t let her go on school trips now. I don’t feel like she’s safe.”

The incident occurred in September, 2007, shortly after the girls had arrived at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach.

Mr Anthony Watson, prosecuting, said that the three victims and another friend had been queuing to ride on the Big One when the two defendants came up behind them appearing drunk and drugged up.

“The four girls made complaints to staff and the defendants were arrested later.”

Mr Robert Kearney, defending Mahmood, said: “The defendant wishes to apologise to these young girls who he must have caused some distress on that day and for some time after.”

Defending Razzaq, Ms Farrhat Arshad said: “He should have known better. Had he not been drinking he would not have committed this offence.”

Judge Michael Byrne said: “You pleaded guilty but the fact remains that for almost the entire part of 18 months since this incident your victims have gone about their daily business with this matter hanging over them.

“I am satisfied that neither of you is a predatory paedophile that preys on young girls.

“You were drunk in the middle of the morning in broad daylight and you were a pair of sexual pests. The public and schools are entitled to know that in broad daylight Blackpool Pleasure Beach is safe for all pupils of both sexes and any age to have a good time. “