"Yeah I know it is illegal, but no-one will find out."
Dewan Gazi, aged 22, of Blackley, Manchester, was jailed for 12 years after he groomed two girls on social media before sexually abusing them.
He had met a 12-year-old girl in her own home where he raped her. He took a 15-year-old girl to his home and sexually abused her.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Gazi had contacted 95 girls on Yubo, a social media app which some have called “Tinder for teens”.
When speaking to the 12-year-old about their age gap, Gazi told her that “age is just a number”.
After meeting the 15-year-old for the first time, she messaged Gazi telling him that she had found that the age of consent was 16 and was concerned she might get in trouble.
Gazi replied with a laughing emoji and said:
“Yeah I know it is illegal, but no-one will find out.”
Charlotte Crangle, prosecuting, explained how the police were alerted after 12-year-old’s mother discovered her daughter’s behaviour.
She had found the girl dancing half-naked in her bedroom, with a mobile phone set up to film herself.
The girl later told police she had talked to several people on Snapchat including Gazi, who she knew as Gaz.
Gazi had asked for pictures of her after telling her that he liked school uniforms. He later sent the girl a picture of his genitals.
He had asked if she was home alone and whether he could come round, however, the girl said that her mother was due back.
They later arranged to meet outside a primary school. They walked around for 30 minutes “chatting” before he left and the girl went home.
On another occasion, Gazi came to her home while she was alone.
She had told him to climb through the window as the door was locked and she could not find a key.
Gazi hugged before reaching around and squeezing her buttocks, calling her “amazing”.
During their third meeting, Gazi raped her.
The girl felt uncomfortable about the incident but did not tell anybody until her police interview. The abuse lasted four weeks.
The second victim thought Gazi was 17 but later found out he was 22. The court heard he knew she was 15 from the beginning.
They had met through Snapchat and Gazi suggested that they should meet up. He picked her up from near her house in his car and took her to his house.
She photographed his house as she felt uncomfortable about what may follow.
Gazi took her to his bedroom where he sexually abused her. He sexually abused her several times before taking her home the next morning.
During the sexual acts, he took pictures of her and told her he was sending them to his friends.
The teenager said she felt “utterly disgusted”.
A few days later, Gazi messaged her asking if they could meet again. She was worried that she might be pregnant. He told her to buy a pregnancy test.
They met and he sexually abused her again, even though she tried to push him off.
The court heard that the first girl now feels anxious going outside and feels angry towards Gazi. The second victim has self-harmed and had suicidal feelings.
Gazi has no previous convictions and was described as “immature” by his barrister Michael Goldwater.
Mr Goldwater explained that his client found it “difficult to understand himself” why he committed the offences. He said Gazi was sorry for his offences and admitted he had caused a “great deal of damage”.
Judge Michael Leeming told him:
“You must understand it is illegal, it is not alright and people have found out.”
Dewan Gazi pleaded guilty to 13 charges.
Manchester Evening News reported that he was jailed for 12 years. In addition, he was ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.
Loading ...