CROYDON MAN TRAVELLED TO LEEDS WITH PLANS TO ABUSE GIRL
A man who traveled from Croydon to Leeds with the intention of abusing a 14-year-old girl was given a shorter prison term because of delays in the justice process.Javed Jafarzadeh was caught in 2022 by paedophile hunters at Leeds railway station.
The 33-year-old man had planned to stay at a girl’s residence and told her he wanted to take her virginity, according to London Now.
Following his arrest, he was released on bail and subsequently relocated to Salford.
It was only after three years that charges were brought against him.
This postponement ultimately benefited Jafarzadeh, leading to a reduced sentence of two years in prison at Croydon Crown Court on Monday (February 2).
Judge Edward Connell highlighted that the considerable delay influenced the sentencing decision.
Prosecutor Martin Ingle stated that he could not explain the delay and noted that the case was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision in August of the previous year.
He mentioned that police often take time to download data from suspects’ phones but found the three-year delay unusual.
While West Yorkshire Police made the arrest at Leeds station, the investigation was managed by the Metropolitan Police.
Mr.
Ingle added, "I’m unable to provide any real explanation for the delay.
The case was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision in August last year.” According to court records, Jafarzadeh, originally from Afghanistan, moved to the UK in 2016 and was granted indefinite leave to remain in early 2022.
On May 25, 2022, he messaged a Facebook profile pretending to be a 14-year-old girl from Leeds.
This account was actually operated by a decoy group called Predator Exposure.
Mr.
Ingle explained that during interactions, Jafarzadeh claimed to be 25, although he was 29 at the time.
The decoy confirmed she was 14 and in school.
He asked her for sexual photos and sent explicit images of himself.
The court also heard that Jafarzadeh repeatedly expressed interest in meeting up for sex.
On June 16, 2022, he was arrested at Leeds Station after being approached by the paedophile hunter group.
Police found messages on his phone to another decoy and Google searches for pornography involving 14-year-old girls.
When charged, Jafarzadeh admitted to attempting to meet a child and communicating sexually with a minor, though he later told a probation officer that he considered the incident a “mistake” and denied any sexual interest in children.
He has a family in Afghanistan unaware of his offences.
Judge Connell explained that due to the significant delay, he reduced the original sentence of four years.
Additionally, Jafarzadeh was granted a 25% reduction for his guilty plea, resulting in a two-year prison term.
