he thought Ruby was an “easy target for his sexual gratification".
Abdul Aziz, aged 38, of Burnley, was jailed for 18 months after he was caught by paedophile hunters trying to meet a ’14-year-old’ for sex.
Preston Crown Court heard he had a “distorted attitude towards British girls” and had committed the crime just weeks after arriving in the UK.
Aziz was caught by a combination of paedophile hunter groups, Cobra UK and Caught and Confronted.
Peter Barr, prosecuting, explained that the father-of-one began contacting what he thought was a 14-year-old girl named Ruby on August 26, 2019, after finding her online.
However, it was revealed he was actually talking to a 41-year-old female member of Cobra UK.
Mr Barr said the very first message Aziz sent to her was a lewd request for sex.
Ruby responded: “I don’t know what you mean, I am only 14.”
Aziz then replied by saying it meant to “hang out and make love”.
Several sexual messages followed over a four-week period on WhatsApp in which Aziz asked Ruby questions and made suggestive remarks.
Aziz asked Ruby to send him photos of her in her bra and when she said she couldn’t because her phone was broken, he offered to pay for repairs. Aziz also offered to pay for her to get credit on her phone.
On August 26, Aziz arranged to meet Ruby, who said she was from London, at Burnley Bus Station. He said he would take her to Rochdale because “it had nice views.”
However, he was met by members of Caught and Confronted, who called the police.
Police confiscated Aziz’s two mobile phones. On one of them, 18 indecent images of pre-teens were discovered.
When asked about the pictures, he claimed that another person had sent them and he thought he had deleted them. The court heard the images had been saved in the same folder as family photos.
Aziz pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and possessing indecent images of children.
Judge Heather Lloyd stated her concern by probation’s assessment that he posed a high risk of harm to children and vulnerable females.
She told Aziz that it was clear he thought Ruby was an “easy target for his sexual gratification.”
She added: “It is said by the author of the pre-sentence report that your actions were planned and deliberate, born out of your distorted attitude towards British girls.”
Mohammed Nawaz, defending, said that his client had arrived in the UK weeks before committing the offences on a family extended visa.
He spoke about the high chance that it would not be extended and Aziz would be deported.
Mr Nawaz added:
“He has a young family. He has been excluded from living with his wife and child.”
“The problems that exist in his marriage have only been exacerbated by his offending.”
Aziz was jailed for 18 months. Lancashire Telegraph reported that he was told to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and was also made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
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