Oldham man avoids jail despite messaging 12-year old ‘girl’

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court

23-year old Kasim Ali, from Falmouth Street, used WhatsApp to message ‘Emily’ believing he was communicating with the school girl but instead he was talking to a gang of paedophile hunters who posted the conversation on social media.

Appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, the former audiologist at North Manchester General Hospital, admitted attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 into non-penetrative sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

However, he avoided prison and was handed a three-year community order, made a subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must take part in a special sex offender treatment programme.

Ali, who bragged about the access he had to children through his job, swapped phone numbers with the 12-year old despite her telling him she was under age and began sending her messages via the communicating app.

The court heard how the conversation became sexual very quickly with the 23-year old sending ‘Emily’ a picture of him lying in his bed before asking for images in return.

He then told her he was performing an inappropriate act.

Ali had first denied any wrong doing to police during his interview but later admitted the charges against him.

The Judge, Angela Nield, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court defended not sending him to prison by saying: “Emily didn’t exist, happily, for you and for her and there was no child hurt by these offences.”

“If this had indeed been a child under the age of 13 a custodial sentence would have been inevitable, and an immediate custodial sentence at that.”

“This sentence is predicated largely on the fact you have essentially sentenced yourself.”

“You have lost your career, suffered public humiliation and been met with disapproval from your close-knit community.”

“You have, as you accept, brought shame on your family.”