A vape shop manager who groomed teenage girls by making them call him "Boss man" and supplied them with free e-cigarettes before sexually abusing them has been jailed for eight years.
Dilshaw Kawani received his sentence after being convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of seven counts of sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity involving two victims.
Investigation and Arrest
Dorset Police began investigating the 53-year-old manager of the Parkstone Mini Market in Ashley Road, Poole, in January 2025 following a report from a teenage girl claiming he had sexually touched her beneath her clothes after providing her with complimentary vapes.
A force spokesman revealed: "It was reported that the girls referred to him as 'Boss man' and he would sell or give them illegal vapes in order to facilitate his offending."
Another teenage victim subsequently reported that she had been sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by the defendant, who had given her free vapes including ones containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Police Action and Court Outcome
Officers took immediate action to arrest Kawani and the vape store was subsequently closed following a joint operation with Trading Standards, with a number of illegal vapes recovered. The store has since reopened under new management.
Detective Inspector Ross McNamee, of the Safeguarding Hub, said: "This sentence marks the conclusion of a determined investigation into offences that caused significant harm to children in our community.
"While no sentence can undo that harm, this outcome ensures the offender has been held accountable for his actions and will now face the consequences of his criminality. Protecting children remains a priority for Dorset Police.
"We are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding young people and will relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit or abuse them. Working closely with our partners, we will continue to identify offenders, build strong cases and bring them before the courts.
"I would also like to commend the victims for the courage they have shown throughout this investigation and the court process. Their bravery has been instrumental in ensuring this offender has been brought to justice and helping to protect other children from harm."
In addition to his custodial sentence, Kawani was also placed under a 12-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
