GHARAT KHAN

AFGHAN MAN HANDED PRISON SENTENCE FOR ONLINE CHILD GROOMING IN BURY

A man sent sexually explicit images of himself to a social media user he believed was a 14-year-old girl before attempting to meet her in Bury.

The defendant, identified as Gharat Khan, initiated communication on an app and messaged a profile that indicated the user was a young girl of 14.

Over time, he sent sexual messages including videos and a picture of his genitals.

In October 2018, Khan arranged to meet the girl near an Asda supermarket in Bury, describing sexual activity they could engage in.

However, he was interrupted by a group who revealed they knew he was planning to meet a minor and he fled.

Police were alerted, and Khan was later arrested.

Despite evidence of the messages, Khan claimed he did not believe she was 14 and that he had 'lost his phone.' He pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and attempting sexual communication with a child.

He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and placed under a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.