MINHAJ KHAN, 31, TARGETED YOUNG GIRL IN WEYMOUTH SEX ATTACK
A MAN targeted a “visibly young girl” in a town centre sex attack that had a “significant psychological impact” on the victim.Minhaj Khan, 31, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he was due to be sentenced after being found guilty of one count of sexual assault.
After representations were made, the offence was deemed to serious to be sentenced at magistrates’ and referred to Bournemouth Crown Court with prosecutors arguing for a starting point of two and a half years in prison.
Khan’s defence barrister said she “didn’t think we can dispute the fact this is a B1 offence” - B1 sexual assaults have a starting range of two years and six months in custody.
The court heard how Khan, whose address was given as Hutton Close, Luton, had “targeted a visibly young girl” on Crescent Street, in Weymouth, at 4.20pm on October 10 of last year.
It was said that whilst Khan’s victim was 17 at the time of the incident it was “accepted” at the trial by the defence advocate, prosecutors and the court that she looked “no more than 14 or 15”.
Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, said the teen had been “walking on her own” having been to college when Khan approached her and said “you’re really cute”.
He then reached out with both his arms, pulled the girl in close and hugged for two to three minutes “before loosening his grip”.
The court was told Khan subsequently took the girl's phone, made a note of the details of her Instagram account before attempting to add himself.
Khan hugged the girl again, kissed her in the middle of forehead, touched her face and attempted to lift it - prosecutors said in an effort to kiss the victim on the lips.
He said to the girl “Can’t we go for dinner?
You’re cute” before walking away.
Prosecutors told the court that the incident had left Khan’s victim “sobbing hysterically” and “petrified” that Khan would “come back”.
Khan was found guilty of one charge of sexual assault following a trial at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on November 21 of last year.
At the trial, the victim said she was left feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” after the assault and that it “brought back memories” from a previous incident when she was 12.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “This violation of my body made me feel dirty and uncomfortable.
I am now extremely embarrassed and ashamed.
It has brought back memories (of a previous incident) I don’t like, I am now scared to trust again.
Khan’s defence barrister did not oppose transferring the case to Crown Court and said that the magistrates’ sentencing powers were “a long way off” being appropriate for the offence.
Khan will be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on February 3.
