Trevortt
25-09-2007, 07:25 PM
This is a disgrace, how can anyone only give the offender such a petty punishment.
An 18-year-old Great Horton man was today sentenced to a 12-month community order at Bradford Crown Court after pleading guilty to having sex with a child. Ammaar Arif, of Cecil Avenue, Bradford, had initially been charged with rape, sex with a child and theft.
The defendant denied the other charges, which were dismissed by the presiding judge.
The charges related to an incident on June 15 when Arif, then 17, had sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl in bushes at Ladyhill Park on Allerton Road.
The court heard that Arif had been given the mobile phone number of the girl, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by a friend. Although the two had never met they engaged in text messaging over a period of several days before arranging to meet at the park on July 15.
Ms Sophie Drake QC for the Crown told the court that, on the day in question, at approximately 4.30pm the girl told her mother she was going to meet a friend in Allerton. In fact she went to the park where she had arranged to meet Arif. At around 5pm the accused received a text message from the girl asking where he was. He then made his way to the park. Once together they went to a secluded area behind some bushes and trees.
The defendant admitted he had asked the girl for sex several times but said that the act had been consensual. He said that the girl had removed her own clothing, a school uniform, and they had had intercourse. At around 6pm the girl was seen by a witness, Hassan Latif, and said to be very upset and wearing her uniform.
When examined by police she had no injuries. She initially claimed she had been robbed and raped by the defendant but later retracted the claims.
Mr Michael Greenhalgh QC, for the defence, argued that when the offence was committed the defendant and complainant were only a year and a half distant in terms of age. He said his client had admitted asking for sex with the girl four times and that he was not sure how old the girl was. He said his client had suffered greatly from having a rape charge hanging over him for some time, and that he had pleaded guilty to the lesser offence. He added that his client had no previous criminal record except for a reprimand for battery.
Passing sentence, Judge James Stewart QC said: "He (Arif) seems to think it's alright to meet a complete stranger and have sexual intercourse. I imagine his uncle and aunt would be horrified. "I hope he realises the stupidity of what he has done. You pleaded guilty to sex with a child; the girl was only 15 but you didn't really mind one way or another, just that you would get a cheap thrill. It is disgusting."
Arif was given a 12-month community supervision order and placed on the sex offenders register for two and a half years.
Source (http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.1712934.0.man_sentenced_for_sex_with_c hild.php)
An 18-year-old Great Horton man was today sentenced to a 12-month community order at Bradford Crown Court after pleading guilty to having sex with a child. Ammaar Arif, of Cecil Avenue, Bradford, had initially been charged with rape, sex with a child and theft.
The defendant denied the other charges, which were dismissed by the presiding judge.
The charges related to an incident on June 15 when Arif, then 17, had sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl in bushes at Ladyhill Park on Allerton Road.
The court heard that Arif had been given the mobile phone number of the girl, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by a friend. Although the two had never met they engaged in text messaging over a period of several days before arranging to meet at the park on July 15.
Ms Sophie Drake QC for the Crown told the court that, on the day in question, at approximately 4.30pm the girl told her mother she was going to meet a friend in Allerton. In fact she went to the park where she had arranged to meet Arif. At around 5pm the accused received a text message from the girl asking where he was. He then made his way to the park. Once together they went to a secluded area behind some bushes and trees.
The defendant admitted he had asked the girl for sex several times but said that the act had been consensual. He said that the girl had removed her own clothing, a school uniform, and they had had intercourse. At around 6pm the girl was seen by a witness, Hassan Latif, and said to be very upset and wearing her uniform.
When examined by police she had no injuries. She initially claimed she had been robbed and raped by the defendant but later retracted the claims.
Mr Michael Greenhalgh QC, for the defence, argued that when the offence was committed the defendant and complainant were only a year and a half distant in terms of age. He said his client had admitted asking for sex with the girl four times and that he was not sure how old the girl was. He said his client had suffered greatly from having a rape charge hanging over him for some time, and that he had pleaded guilty to the lesser offence. He added that his client had no previous criminal record except for a reprimand for battery.
Passing sentence, Judge James Stewart QC said: "He (Arif) seems to think it's alright to meet a complete stranger and have sexual intercourse. I imagine his uncle and aunt would be horrified. "I hope he realises the stupidity of what he has done. You pleaded guilty to sex with a child; the girl was only 15 but you didn't really mind one way or another, just that you would get a cheap thrill. It is disgusting."
Arif was given a 12-month community supervision order and placed on the sex offenders register for two and a half years.
Source (http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.1712934.0.man_sentenced_for_sex_with_c hild.php)