AJAY VARMA FROM GIFFNOCK AND UDDINGSTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND STALKING INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Giffnock and Uddingston, Ajay Varma, aged 43, has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to a series of serious criminal offenses involving a young girl. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior, including sexual activity with a minor, stalking, and the malicious dissemination of explicit images.

Varma, who was the owner of Smokey Jay's, an American-style burger restaurant located in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, became the focus of a criminal investigation after allegations surfaced that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with a girl who was only 14 years old at the time. The incident spanned from June 2015 to May of the following year, during which the girl was aged 14 and 15. The court heard that Varma had taken advantage of her vulnerability, offering her employment at his establishment after her grandmother discussed her difficulties with him.

During the trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, it was disclosed that Varma had not only engaged in sexual acts with the girl but also recorded videos of their encounters, including a sexual intercourse video and topless photographs of her, which he kept in his possession. These images and videos were shared with others, including the girl’s mother, through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. The court was told that Varma had also created a fake Facebook account in the victim’s name and posted messages to further humiliate her.

Furthermore, the court heard that Varma had used technology to stalk the girl, providing her with a mobile phone equipped with a GPS tracker that he used to monitor her movements. He also made threatening phone calls and sent text messages, instilling fear and alarm in the young girl. His actions extended to sending a video of himself with the girl to her mother, a clear indication of his manipulative and controlling behavior.

In addition to these offenses, Varma admitted to following the girl in public, shouting abuse and threats, and posting explicit images online to humiliate her further. His conduct was described as deeply disturbing, with the court emphasizing the significant age gap and the abuse of his position of authority and trust.

Judge Daniel Kelly QC sentenced Varma to four years in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. The judge highlighted the gravity of the offenses, noting that Varma’s actions had caused considerable distress to the victim and her family. He also pointed out that Varma had expressed a lack of remorse, stating that he did not care about the potential jail sentence as long as his actions were visible to others.

It was also revealed that Varma had appeared on STV Glasgow’s Riverside show, where he boasted about his food and demonstrated his cooking skills, seemingly unaware of the criminal proceedings against him. The restaurant, Smokey Jay’s, which opened in 2014 and was highly praised by customers for its value and quality, closed its doors last summer amid the fallout from the case.

This case underscores the serious consequences of exploiting young individuals and abusing positions of trust, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding minors and the vigilance required to prevent such predatory behavior.