Kerb-crawling dad ‘humiliated family’

Police crackdown on child sex exploitation

A 25-year-old Oldham man admitted picking up two known prostitutes within hours of them leaving the children’s home where they lived.

Shamefaced Bilal Ahmed, of Cambridge Street, Werneth, was slapped with a £300 fine and ordered to pay £100 court costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to kerb crawling at Oldham Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard that Ahmed, a married father of a one-year-old son, was driving around with two friends on September 20 when the group spotted the girls at a bus stop in Featherstall Road North.

Ahmed, a car valeter, stopped near the bus stop and one of his passengers gestured the girls to get in.

But police who were patrolling the area as part of a crackdown on prostitution and sexual exploitation stopped the car.

In police interviews, Ahmed admitted that he had been driving away from the girls and changed direction when he saw them.

He also admitted that he had known the area was a red light district and that he was aware the girls could have been soliciting.

Ahmed’s solicitor, Damian Zelazowsky, told the court that the car Ahmed had been driving belonged to his brother-in-law and he wanted to show it off. Mr Zelazowsky said: “This was three young men generally enjoying having a nice vehicle when some ill-advised giddiness went too far. He accepts his behaviour was unacceptable and asks that the court see it for what it was, rather than something more sinister.”

During sentencing, chairman of Magistrates George Steele slammed Bilal’s reckless behaviour, saying: “Your stupidity has caused your family a great amount of humiliation and the loss of your previous good character.

“We have taken the view that this was a one-off incident, but if you repeat this offence, you will be subject to harsher penalties and we may consider disqualifying you from driving.”

The latest case was another success for Operation Messenger, a specialist partnership between Greater Manchester Police, Oldham Council, Oldham PCT and the children’s charity, Barnardo’s, which aims to stamp out child sexual exploitation in the borough.

Chief Supt Caroline Ball head of the Oldham Division said: “Messenger was set up in Oldham to unite all of the agencies who come into contact with children and stop young people from being abused. This is not an easy thing to do because vulnerable girls do not always recognise the dangers.”

Anyone with concerns about child sexual exploitation is asked to call 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:0800 555 111.