A 29-year-old care worker has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after traveling to being found guilty of traveling to Telford and grooming a 15-year-old girl
Awais Sheikh, of East Bawtry Road had denied the charge but was found guilty of the offence following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court
Sheikh, who initially met the victim through social media, misled the teenager about his age by claiming he was 25.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that he travelled from to Telford on 14 October 2024 to meet the girl, whom he picked up from school while she was still wearing her uniform, bought her McDonaldโs, bought cannabis, then took her to a secluded area where they were found by police – with condoms discovered in the glove compartment.
Shiekh asked the victim where the nearest mosque was so he could go and pray whilst she waited outside.
At the time of the offence, Sheikh was serving a 12-month suspended sentence for possession of cannabis with intent to supply, which was handed down in April 2024.
At a sentencing hearing Rosemary Proctor, prosecuting, told the court that Sheikh had contacted the victim on Instagram and Snapchat in the weeks leading up to October 2024.
She said the victim was sent a friend request by Sheikh, but she ignored it at first.
However, she later went on to accepted the request and the pair started to converse – with Sheikh telling the victim she was โprettyโ.
The court was told she had immediately informed the defendant of her age – which was 15 at the time
Ms Proctor said Sheikh told her he was 25, although he was in fact 27 at the time.
The court was told that during October Sheikh had messaged the victim to tell her he had a day off and that he could come and see her.
Sheikh was sentenced to a total of 24 months in prisonโ22 months for meeting a child after sexual grooming, with an additional consecutive two-month term for breaching his suspended sentence order.
