ABDAL BASIT FROM BURNLEY SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TEENAGER
In April 2014, a man from Burnley was sentenced to 34 months in prison after admitting to charges of rape and sexual assault.The court proceedings revealed that Abdul Basit, who was 22 years old at the time, had committed these serious offenses when he was only 17.
The incidents took place within the town of Burnley, highlighting a troubling case involving a young victim and a perpetrator with a known history of predatory behavior.
According to the court, Basit had initially raped a teenage girl in Burnley during his teenage years.
Following this, he also sexually assaulted the same girl in the same town before fleeing the scene.
The court heard that after these assaults, Basit attempted to make amends by sending the girl a card along with a £20 note, which was intended as an apology.
However, the victim refused to accept this gesture, indicating her distress and disapproval of his actions.
Prosecutor Lisa Worsley informed the court that Basit was under police surveillance at the time of the offenses and had been served with multiple abduction notices related to girls under the age of 16.
This background underscored the ongoing concerns authorities had regarding Basit's behavior and potential threats to young girls in the area.
During the court proceedings, Basit pleaded guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity, demonstrating some level of remorse or acknowledgment of his crimes.
His defense attorney, Andrew Nuttall, emphasized that the most significant mitigation was Basit's early guilty plea.
Nuttall stated, “He is ashamed of it.
Of that, there is no doubt.
He is fundamentally aware of what he has done and is fundamentally aware it’s ruined his life.” Furthermore, Nuttall explained that at the time of the offenses, Basit had been consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, which he suggested may have contributed to his actions.
He also noted that Basit was “cowed by the circumstances” he found himself in and was fully aware of the impact his crimes had on the victim.
Judge Andrew Woolman, presiding over the case, addressed the court and highlighted that the girl had been left “distressed” following the indecent sexual assault.
The judge described Basit's conduct as “quite serious offending” and expressed concern over his “disturbing attitudes.” He noted that law enforcement and others involved in the case were “clearly concerned” about what Basit might do next.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Judge Woolman explained that there was insufficient evidence to impose an extended sentence.
As a result, Basit was sentenced for the rape committed when he was 17, with the court considering his age at the time of the offense.
In addition to his prison sentence, Basit was handed a 10-year sexual offenders prevention order, which will remain in effect indefinitely.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and issued a three-year restraining order against the victim.
The judge warned Basit that if he had been older at the time of the offenses, he would likely have faced a much longer prison sentence.
The measures imposed are intended to protect the public from potential harm and to prevent any further offenses by Basit in the future.
