“Until he was arrested he was a serving police officer.”
Farooq Ahmed, aged 37, of Tameside, was jailed for two years for sexually assaulting a young girl. He was an officer for Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard he sexually assaulted the girl on three occasions when she was still at primary school in 2016.
On the first occasion, the victim woke up and discovered that her clothes had been removed.
On the next two occasions, Ahmed touched and licked her private parts and on the last occasion, he filmed himself assaulting the girl but quickly deleted it.
Ahmed also made sure her hand was touching his genitals.
The offences came to light in November 2020 when Ahmed told police what had happened.
In December 2020, he admitted three counts of sexual assault and one of making an indecent image of a child.
Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, said that Ahmed was employed by Greater Manchester Police.
He said: “Until he was arrested he was a serving police officer.”
Judge Nicholas Clarke asked: “How was his service terminated?”
Mr Berlyne replied: “As I understand it he has been suspended.”
The judge then asked: “He is still being paid? He has not resigned from the service?”
Mr Berlyne replied: “That is correct as I understand it.”
The prosecutor added that the offences had taken place before Ahmed joined the police in March 2017.
A victim impact statement from the young girl’s mother said that “her world fell apart” when she found out what had happened.
The statement read: “I did not know what to say or think.
“There was a lot of tears and shock. This has had a massive impact on all our lives.”
Johnathan King, defending, said Ahmed had the “deepest remorse.”
He said: “This is a guilty plea at the first opportunity.
“Mr Ahmed wishes to convey his deepest remorse for these offences.
“He served the police for three years, he completed his probation early in 2019, he worked in the Tameside area.
“He accepts he must face the full consequence of this.”
Judge Clarke, passing sentence, said:
“My first thoughts are with the young girl, who was still at primary school when she suffered sexual abuse.”
Bolton News reported that on January 5, 2021, Ahmed was jailed for two years and was made subject to the sex offenders’ register. A five-year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.
Judge Clarke added: “You will have to serve this sentence at a very difficult time in prisons and as a previously serving police officer.”
A GMP spokesperson said: “GMP’s Professional Standards Branch is now taking action in line with the police regulations to seek the officer’s dismissal from the police service at the earliest opportunity.”
Detective Sergeant Zahid Latif said: “This was disgusting abuse of a young girl and it is important today that justice has been served for the victim, who has been receiving support from specialist officers and partner agencies throughout this investigation.
“The victim has been at the heart of this case during the entirety of our investigation and we hope that she and her loved ones are able to take some comfort from today’s verdict.
“There is absolutely no place for abuse such as this in our society and Ahmed is now behind bars to consider his actions and the profound impact they have had on his victim.”
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