Jail for man who arranged to meet York teenager
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A man who arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl after sending her indecent images has been jailed.
Ali Asghar, 20, communicated with the girl from York via social media, sending her indecent images and videos of himself, and demanding she did the same.
Despite being fully aware of the victim's age, he arranged to meet her in York, and travelled there from his home in Aberdeen, Scotland, in December 2023. Her parents were alerted, and they contacted the police. North Yorkshire Police officers attended, and Asghar was arrested.
Asghar was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to watch an act of sexual activity, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and meeting a child following sexual grooming.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at York Crown Court on 15 January 2024. At the same court on 7 March 2024, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, and issued with a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order, both lasting ten years.
In a personal statement read to the court, the victim described the impact of Asghar's crimes: "I am struggling to trust people, I don’t know why they want to talk to me, I am scared that other people will do this to me... I now feel that I can't trust anyone as I don’t know what their intentions are."
After the sentencing hearing, DC Rebecca Hebblethwaite, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "The victim in this case has been extremely brave in helping to convict Asghar. Thanks to her courage, we've been able to ensure he has faced justice, and prevent him from harming other children."
Grooming is a crime. Perpetrators may lie about who they are, particularly online where they can create a false identity. Victims can be groomed through social media, messaging apps, email, or text, voice or video chats in forums, games and apps. If you suspect a person is being groomed, even if you’re not sure, please tell someone. If you think you're being groomed, tell someone. Report it to the police, online or by calling 101.