Locations
Accrington, Lancashire, BB5
Description
Aqib Mahmood, a 28-year-old shop worker from Accrington, was jailed for two years and eight months after attempting to incite underage girls to perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes and cannabis.
On October 31, 2023, Mahmood was working at his father's Warrington shop when a 14-year-old girl and her friend entered. He asked their ages and suggested they return if interested. Weeks later, they tried buying a vape, which he refused. When one girl asked what she could do to get it, Mahmood replied she could "suck him off."
Two days later, she returned alone; he again offered the vape if she "sucked his penis." She refused but agreed to a hug, during which he squeezed her buttocks.
The girls told their parents, leading to Mahmood's arrest and bail. While on bail, he approached a 15-year-old girl, saying if she wanted cannabis, she would "have to do something for it." He touched his crotch and added: "I want you to make me hard." She refused.
At Burnley Crown Court, Mahmood pleaded guilty—shortly before victims' evidence—to two counts of inciting a 13-15-year-old girl to penetrative sexual activity, one count of inciting non-penetrative activity, and one count of sexual assault. He had initially pleaded not guilty in May.
Mitigator Emma Kehoe said Mahmood had struggled physically and mentally, turning to cannabis and alcohol: He "fell into a spiral and behaved in the way he did." She added: "He regrets and is entirely remorseful for what he did. He still cannot understand why he did what he did."
Judge Daniel Prowse found Mahmood attracted to teenage girls and a risk to children, but noted his remorse was "not unusual" for such offenders. He imposed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order and lifetime sex offender registration.