Locations
East Bawtry Road, Whiston, Rotherham, S60
Description
A man has been handed a two-year jail sentence after driving from Sheffield to meet a schoolgirl from Telford he’d been speaking to online.
Awais Sheikh, of East Bawtry Road in Rotherham, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday (13 April) after he was found guilty of meeting a child following sexual grooming.
During the hearing, the court was told how the 28-year-old had contacted the girl via social media – Snapchat and Instagram – in October 2024, telling her he was 25, when in fact he was two years older.
The victim had initially ignored a friend request from Sheikh, but when she accepted it she immediately told him she was 15. Despite this, Sheikh continued to contact her, complimenting her appearance.
A few weeks later Sheikh then drove from his home in Yorkshire to Telford to pick the girl up from school.
Sheikh met her outside of school, before taking her to McDonald’s and then to a secluded spot near the Wrekin.
The girl was reported missing to police, and was found by officers at the Wrekin, where condoms and cannabis were discovered in the glovebox of Sheikh’s vehicle.
Sheikh was arrested and later charged with meeting a child following sexual grooming, which on Monday he was handed a 22-month sentence. He was given a further two months to run consecutively for activating an existing suspended sentence.
The judge also ordered that Sheikh is be added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Detective Constable Jack Underwood said:
"Sheikh’s actions were predatory, deliberate and deeply concerning. He travelled across the country with the clear intention of exploiting a child. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did.
"I want to pay tribute to the victim, whose courage throughout both the investigation and the court proceedings has been remarkable. Coming forward and reliving such a frightening experience takes immense strength, and her bravery has been vital in ensuring Sheikh has been brought to justice.
"We remain fully committed to protecting children from harm, identifying those who pose a risk, and working tirelessly to ensure offenders face the consequences of their actions, like Sheikh. This case shows that we will act swiftly and robustly whenever a child is put in danger."