ACCRINGTON MAN WHO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BOY IN WHALLEY WALKS FREE
A man with six children who inappropriately touched a teenage boy at Whalley bus station has been released from court without imprisonment.Syed Uddin, aged 48, was accused of grabbing the 14-year-old's clothing.
The boy promptly left the scene and contacted police authorities.
The court in Burnley heard that the young victim was more concerned about the possibility of further harm rather than his own injuries, fearing the accused might offend again.
An earlier police appeal led to a crucial eyewitness coming forward, which was acknowledged by Lancashire Telegraph readers.
Uddin reportedly suffers from diabetes, depression, and back pain and receives a weekly disability allowance of £200.
He has been claiming benefits for the last 14 years.
The court was informed he has a child of similar age to the victim and is a grandfather of seven.
Residing on Hope Street in Accrington, Uddin had previously been convicted of sexual assault after a trial lasting three days.
He denied the charges and maintained the incident never occurred.
The court sentenced him to four months in jail, suspended for a year, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for seven years.
He is also required to reside at his home address for two months.
Judge Simon Newell expressed his disapproval of Uddin’s attitude towards the proceedings, noting that the defendant told a probation officer he did not see the need to cooperate with supervision.
Uddin, who had contemplated flying to Bangladesh shortly after sentencing, did not seem to take the matter seriously.
The judge commented on the victim’s demeanor, describing him as a self-assured, intelligent, and emotionally stable young person, and noted he seemed unaffected psychologically by the incident.
However, he warned that more vulnerable individuals might have suffered more severe impacts.
Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson recounted that around 6 pm in September 2009, Uddin approached the boy, asked about his destination, and offered him a crisp snack.
While the victim was focused on the bus timetable, Uddin touched his crotch.
The defendant was detained shortly afterward on a bus heading to Blackburn.
Defence lawyer Katie Jones emphasized that Uddin continues to deny the crime and mentioned his ongoing health issues.
