Burhan Din, 30, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison at Bradford Crown Court for a series of sexual offences against a teenage girl. He was convicted of two counts of rape, four counts of sexual activity with a child, and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He also admitted possessing a machete and cannabis.
Grooming and attacks
Din groomed the child on Snapchat before raping her at a flat in Bradford, West Yorkshire. He plied the girl with alcohol before attacking her. Jurors heard how the rapist knew early on that the girl was a child and got her drunk before the assaults.
Recorder Jason Pitter KC told Din: "In very simple terms, you deliberately and cynically groomed her." The judge said the case highlighted the danger men such as Din pose to young people on social media.
Victim impact
The girl told the court her life had been "nothing but hell" since Din contacted her. Detailing how her mental health suffered, she revealed how he left her feeling scared and powerless. She said telling the authorities about what had happened was extremely hard, but she was glad her voice was heard.
The judge said he was satisfied Din had recorded one of his sex attacks on his phone and that the girl acted bravely to read her statement in court. He said: "She is a credit to herself. Hopefully she will in time be able to feel she has fully taken back her power."
Sentencing and orders
Din, who is married with a child of his own, denied his crimes even after being found guilty. He will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
