TAHIR MEHMOOD, PIZZA DRIVER FROM SWINDON, SENTENCED TO 4.5 YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In August 2014, Tahir Mehmood, a pizza delivery driver from Swindon, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl. The incident occurred in July 2012 when Mehmood took the teenager to an unoccupied bungalow he kept for visiting family members from Pakistan. The court heard that Mehmood, 27 at the time, had previously been accused of raping the same girl, but a jury in his trial last month failed to reach a verdict on that charge. This marked the second attempt by the Crown to prosecute him for rape, but both trials resulted in deadlocks, and the case on that charge was discontinued.

Judge Douglas Field addressed Mehmood during sentencing, stating: “You are now 27. The jury convicted you of having sexual intercourse with the complainant when she was under 16. She was 15. You were 26, a mature, married man with four step-children. She, in my judgement, was a rather naive and immature teenager. It’s clear she was only 15 and there’s a disparity in your ages. The circumstances are so serious, I must pass an immediate sentence of imprisonment.” Additionally, Mehmood, who was employed by Domino’s Pizza in West Swindon, was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Prosecutor Tessa Hingston spoke about the impact on the victim, saying: “In her victim impact statement the girl has said, since the incident, it has been a lot more difficult for her to trust male friends. It was a long time before she felt comfortable being intimate with the one boyfriend she has had since the incident. She struggles to take lifts or use taxis with lone men. He took advantage of her trust and it has put her through a great deal of stress.”

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mehmood had separated from his wife and step-children and had been living in West Swindon. Mitigating circumstances were presented by Siobhan Molloy, who stated: “He’s very frightened and it was quite difficult trying to communicate because of the pain he was in. He is no longer with his wife as a result of these proceedings and has moved out of the family address.”

Earlier in July 2014, Mehmood had been found guilty of sexual activity with the underage girl. Despite the jury's inability to reach a verdict on the rape charge, the conviction on the sexual activity charge requires him to register as a sex offender. Mehmood, originally from Pakistan and living in Carver Close, Stratton, had pleaded not guilty to both counts and initially faced trial at Swindon Crown Court last November. After deliberating for over eight hours the first jury was deadlocked on the rape charge, and a second jury, reduced to eleven members, unanimously convicted him of the lesser charge.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the sentencing to August 27 to allow for a pre-sentence report, and Mehmood was released on bail with conditions including a night-time curfew, no contact with witnesses, and restrictions on transporting females under 16 unless accompanied by family or in employment. He had surrendered his passport and faced a maximum sentence of 14 years. It was alleged that he had given the girl alcohol before assaulting her at the bungalow. The girl later confided in a friend about being forced, describing how he threw her onto the bed and raped her while she shouted ‘no’. She also stated she felt too ashamed to report the events immediately and gradually disclosed what happened over time. Mehmood claimed she consented and argued that she asked for a lift and wine at Tesco. A former colleague mentioned the girl told her she slept with Mehmood to get alcohol for a school prom after-party.