Man begged for sex with girl, 14

JAILEd . . . Jahan Mirza

A 36-YEAR-OLD Oldham man who made sexual advances towards a 14-year-old girl he picked up in his car is behind bars.

Jahan Mirza, of Kersley Street, was jailed for two years and nine months after he admitted abducting a child with the intention of committing a sexual offence.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Mirza and another man picked up two girls, aged 16 and 14, on December 13, 2009.

The younger girl had been encouraged to get into the car by the other girl, and all four drove to a secluded spot in Park Bridge.

The 14-year-old told police how Mirza had begged her to have sex with him and asked her to perform a sex act on him.

Mirza continued to ask the girl to have sex with him even after she told him she was 14-years-old.

All four then drove off, and were stopped by police officers, who were concerned about Mirza’s driving, at around 1.35am.

They discovered the two girls crouching in the back of the car, with their age and the time of night sparking concern that they may be victims of sexual exploitation.

Mirza initially gave police a false name, before providing police with his details.

Detective Sergeant Liz Hopkinson, from Operation Messenger, said: “Operation Messenger was set up to safeguard young and vulnerable people from the risk of sexual exploitation.

“Mirza tried to have sex with a 14-year-old girl when he knew exactly how old she was and is the very type of person we were set up to deal with.

“I hope this sentence sends a clear warning that our officers, whether involved in Messenger or not, are trained to identify children at risk.

“Those who prey on them and anyone caught doing so faces going to court and being sent to prison.”