GIRLS’ SEXUAL ASSAULT DEFENDANTS ASAD MAHMOOD AND HAQNAWEZ RAZZAQ IN OLDHAM SPARED PRISON IN BLACKPOOL CASE

In February 2009, the parents of a 13-year-old girl expressed their outrage after two men from Oldham, Asad Mahmood (19) and Haqnawez Razzaq (27), were released without prison time following their sexual assault on the girl at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The incident occurred while the girl was queueing to ride the Big One rollercoaster. Mahmood and Razzaq, who were intoxicated, groped her and two of her friends, claiming they had condoms. Despite the girls stating they were only 13 and on a school trip, the two men persisted in trying to obtain their names and phone numbers, continuing their assault as they sat behind one of the girls on the ride.

At Preston Crown Court, Judge Michael Byrne sentenced each man, stating that neither was a predatory paedophile. Mahmood, of Queens Road, received a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years, along with 150 hours of unpaid work and a £300 fine to each victim. Razzaq, of Brompton Street, Glodwick, was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, supervised for two years, and also paid £300 to each victim. Both were ordered to sign the sex offender’s register, Mahmood for seven years and Razzaq for five.

The victims’ parents, who were unable to be identified due to legal reasons, criticized the sentencing. They said outside court: “This is no justice for my daughter. A community order is no deterrent. All that was being talked about was helping the defendants. The victims in this case never got heard. It was all about the criminal. These were three 13-year-old girls and they have had this hanging over them for 18 months. My daughter had nightmares for weeks after this because it took so long for them to even be charged. She has changed in her mannerisms. She shouldn’t have had to go through this. We feel very bitter at the sentence. If they had been jailed then we would have felt justice had been done. We don’t let her go on school trips now. I don’t feel like she’s safe.”

The assault took place in September 2007, shortly after the girls arrived at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach. Prosecutor Anthony Watson described how the three victims and a friend were queuing for the Big One when Mahmood and Razzaq, appearing intoxicated, approached them. The girls reported the misconduct to staff, leading to the defendants' arrest.

Defense lawyers included Robert Kearney for Mahmood, who apologized for causing distress to the girls, and Farrhat Arshad for Razzaq, who acknowledged that he should have known better and that alcohol contributed to his actions.

Judge Byrne emphasized the impact on the victims, stating: “You pleaded guilty but the fact remains that for almost 18 months since this incident, your victims have carried this burden. I am satisfied that neither of you is a predatory paedophile. You were drunk in broad daylight and behaved as sexual pests. The community and schools have the right to know that Blackpool Pleasure Beach is safe for all visitors regardless of age or gender, especially during daylight hours.”