13,890 messages exchanged between him and the child.
Ahmed Thakar, aged 64, of Bradford, was jailed for five years and four months for having sex with a vulnerable child after grooming her to gain her trust.
Bradford Crown Court heard that in 2017, he groomed the teenage girl with money and jewellery and persuaded her to exchange almost 14,000 text messages with him.
Gerald Hendron, prosecuting, said he lied to the police and his family about his actions. He claimed the allegations were the victim’s sexual fantasies.
However, on the day of his trial, Thakar pleaded guilty to having sex with the 15-year-old girl and kissing her.
Mr Hendron explained that the admissions included multiple counts of sexual intercourse over a short period of time. He said that the victim was vulnerable.
Thakar, who is a married father-of-three, had kissed the girl and asked for her phone number.
On several occasions, he had sex with her, brought her make-up and jewellery and gave her money.
Thakar told the girl that if she saw anyone else, he would come to her house and kill her in front of her family.
Despite having a wife and family, he said he wanted to marry her.
The grooming and sexual abuse came to light after the victim told a social worker what had happened.
Police seized Thakar’s phone and found 13,890 messages exchanged between him and the child.
Messages revealed that Thakar knew his victim was underage. In other conversations, he told her not to wear underwear when they met up and promised her “good sex”.
In a victim impact statement, the girl said she now found it difficult to trust people.
Thakar’s barrister Abigail Langford said his wife had written to the court asking for leniency for her husband who had “never hurt anyone”.
He was a hard-working builder who had supported her during her serious health problems.
Miss Langford said a prison sentence would be difficult for Thakar, especially with the Covid-19 lockdown. It would be a tragedy for his family if he went to prison.
Judge Jonathan Rose described Thakar’s behaviour as “utterly wicked”. He had lied to his family and did not accept any responsibility for his actions.
Judge Rose said: “Children cannot protect themselves and cannot understand that sexual activity is not for them until they are much older and in a proper relationship.
“You are devoid of any remorse whatsoever.”
The Telegraph and Argus reported that Thakar was jailed for five years and four months on November 2, 2020. He also received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register, both without limit of time.
Detective Inspector Janet Little, who led the investigation, said:
“Thakar committed some serious sexual offences against his victim and has received a prison sentence which has reflected the nature of his offending against a young and vulnerable girl.
“All reports of sexual abuse are treated very seriously and investigated thoroughly by specially trained officers and we would always advise victims to come forward and report any offences to allow us to seek justice for them.
“Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse is urged to come forward and speak to police via 101.”
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