ZABHULLAH BOOTA SENTENCED IN BRADFORD'S LIDGET GREEN NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES

In December 2010, a disturbing case unfolded in Bradford involving a man named Zabhullah Boota, who was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl in the Lidget Green area. Despite the severity of the charges, Boota, aged 51, was sentenced to a community order but was still permitted to return to his home in Lydgate Drive, a neighborhood where the victim continues to reside.

Boota’s background includes multiple disabilities and an educational age estimated at around ten years old. His conviction at Bradford Crown Court was for sexual assault and inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. The case had garnered attention earlier when it was reported in the Telegraph & Argus, particularly because Boota was granted bail to his residence in Lydgate Drive shortly after his conviction on November 15. This decision was met with strong disapproval from the victim’s mother, who described the impact on her daughter as “devastating.”

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Benjamin Nolan QC explained that he had contemplated issuing a residence order that would prevent Boota from living in his current home, given that the victim still resides nearby. The judge acknowledged the potential for further distress and aggravation if Boota remained in the neighborhood. However, he also noted that Boota was facing eviction from his housing association, which was likely to force him to move within a few months. The court recognized Boota’s reliance on his wife’s assistance due to his disabilities, which influenced the sentencing decision.

As a result, Boota was sentenced to a community order with a two-year supervision period. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which explicitly prohibited any contact with the young victim. The judge emphasized that although the assault was relatively short and considered minor in the context of sexual offenses, any abuse of a child must be taken seriously. He acknowledged Boota’s severe learning difficulties and physical disabilities, which mitigated the severity of the sentence, leading to a more lenient community order rather than imprisonment.

Following the court proceedings, the victim’s mother expressed her outrage and frustration. She, who must remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity, questioned the justice of the sentence, stating, “How could that happen? A child gets attacked and the judge gives him a community order. He’s a paedophile, where is the justice in that?” She further revealed the ongoing trauma her daughter faces, including nightmares and emotional distress, underscoring the devastating impact of the case on their family and the community in Lidget Green.