'˜Predatory' newlywed jailed for sex offences against two teenage girls

A dad-to-be who committed a string of sexual offences against two 15-year-old schoolgirls has been jailed for four years and two months.
Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

Sentencing newlywed Choudhary Muhammad Owais, 22, at Preston Crown Court, Judge Heather Lloyd told him it was “predatory behaviour” and said: “It is abundantly clear you took advantage of the girl’s youth and stupidity.

“You behaved in a criminal fashion and instead of admitting to your wife and the court you had acted foolishly from the outset, you’ve made matters worse for all by your lying denials and taking no responsibility. Your imam, who has written to the court, is entirely wrong when he says you have shown remorse – you have not.”

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His trial was previously told on three different occasions he and a friend met the girls and he tried to exploit them sexually, plying them with booze and encouraging them to engage in sexual activity.

Owais, of Miller Road, Preston, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault dating back to July 2013.

Wearing a sports jacket and blue T-shirt, he appeared nervous in the dock as the girl’s families watched from the public gallery.

The court previously heard three young girls from Preston had told their families they were staying with each other - when in fact they were staying at one of the girl’s homes while her family were away.

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On the first night the defendant had met them the men drove the girls to Blackpool where it is alleged offences were committed in a car.

The jury heard the following night the group were in Avenham Park, where other offences happened.

It is also alleged he sexually assaulted one of the girls as they drove around in a car on the same night.

On a third occasion, the court was told, police officers took the girls home after finding them with the men in Hurst Grange Park.

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Defending, John Woodward said: “At the time he was 19 to 20 and his life almost three years on is completely different. He was in bad company, he was drinking.”

“His life has moved on considerably in terms of his employment, stability and lack of drinking. It could be argued he was quite immature at that time. He didn’t have any real structure to his life, he didn’t have a girlfriend and had the occasional job.”

The court has imposed a sexual harm prevention order meaning Owais will be unable to continue his employment at a stables.