Migrant Spared Jail After Sexually Assaulting Schoolgirl in Berkshire
A 70-year-old migrant has avoided an immediate prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl while she walked home from school in Slough, Berkshire. Chaudhry Zaman was found guilty of forcibly holding the child's hand and kissing her on the lips, an incident that has left the victim with lasting anxiety and disrupted her family's daily life.
Disturbing Details of the Assault Emerge in Court
Reading Crown Court heard how Zaman approached the girl as she made her way home from school, forcibly taking her hand despite her clear reluctance. CCTV footage presented during the trial showed the defendant sitting with the victim on a bench, where he proceeded to kiss her. In his defence, Zaman claimed he was merely encouraging the girl to cover her head and discussing how she might do so, a justification that was rejected by the jury.
Prosecutor Ian Wright revealed further alarming details, stating that Zaman had asked the child to be friends with him, inquired if she loved him, and instructed her to keep their interaction secret. The court was informed that the defendant, aged 68 at the time of the offence, had no previous convictions recorded against him.
Victim's Life Profoundly Affected by the Ordeal
In a heartfelt victim personal statement, the girl described feeling overwhelmed and nauseous with anxiety about returning to school after the assault. She expressed difficulty in discussing what happened, fearing others would not understand her trauma. The incident has necessitated significant changes to her family's routine, with her father now required to collect her from school daily to ensure her safety.
"I still feel anxious now about what happened and I wish it did not happen to me," the victim told the court. She also revealed the social consequences of coming forward, having lost friendships within her community after making the allegation against Zaman.
Sentencing Considerations and Judicial Remarks
Judge Amjad Nawaz presided over the case, noting the profound impact of Zaman's actions on the young victim. "The victim has lost her self-esteem, lost her confidence and lost her friends and that is all down to your actions," the judge told the defendant during sentencing. Despite these serious consequences, the court decided against imposing an immediate custodial sentence.
Defence barrister Paul Douglass highlighted a pre-sentence report recommending a community order, citing Zaman's age, clean criminal record, and the nature of the offence as mitigating factors. While the report noted Zaman's initial lack of guilt acceptance, Douglass stated his client expressed remorse and promised such behaviour would not recur.
Community-Based Sentence Imposed
Judge Nawaz ultimately agreed that Zaman's risk could be managed within the community, imposing a nine-month prison sentence suspended for eighteen months. The defendant must complete eighteen hours of unpaid work and is subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting him from approaching within 200 metres of the victim's school. Additionally, Zaman was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for a decade.
The sentencing hearing proceeded with the assistance of a Punjabi interpreter for Zaman, who had denied one count of sexually assaulting a girl under thirteen by touching but was convicted by a jury on October 24th last year. Questions regarding the defendant's immigration status were raised during proceedings, with the prosecution confirming Zaman was lawfully present in the United Kingdom.
