ABDUL GANI FROM EVERTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CHILD IN KIRKDALE NEWSAGENTS

In August 2022, a disturbing incident occurred at Jim’s News, a local newsagent situated on Fountains Road in Kirkdale, involving a young girl and a man from Sudan named Abdul Gani. The victim, a 10-year-old girl, was in the shop accompanied by her nine-year-old cousin when the incident took place. As they were selecting packets of crisps, Abdul Gani, who was passing by, engaged in a reprehensible act by groping the girl’s bottom without her consent.

Olivia Beesley, the prosecutor, detailed the events during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, August 1. She explained that Gani, aged 32 and residing on Langsdale Street in Everton, initially walked past the girls and then turned around to wink and smile at the young girl, which was an unsettling gesture. When the girl approached the checkout to pay for her items, Gani was again nearby. As she passed him after paying, he deliberately groped her again, an act that caused her to run out of the shop in distress.

Following the incident, the girl returned to her cousin, who was unaware of what had transpired. The victim confided in her uncle about the assault once they reached home. Her family member then went to the shop to request CCTV footage, which helped identify the suspect. The shop staff pointed out Gani, who was believed to be outside his residence at the time. The police were summoned to the scene, and they found Gani unconscious outside his home, having been assaulted.

Gani was subsequently taken into custody. During an interview on May 7, he claimed that he had been at home with two other individuals at the time of the incident and denied that the person shown on the CCTV footage was him. Despite his denials, Gani was convicted of sexually assaulting the girl by touching after a trial in a magistrates’ court. Due to the seriousness of the offence, his case was transferred to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing.

On the day scheduled for sentencing, Gani refused to appear in person, opting instead to remain in his prison cell and participate via video link. He also failed to cooperate with the Probation Service in preparing a pre-sentence report. Notably, Gani had dismissed his legal representation during the trial, leaving him unrepresented. Given his pattern of non-engagement, Judge Stuart Driver, QC, decided it was in the interests of justice to proceed with sentencing in his absence.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Driver described Gani as a dangerous offender. The probation report indicated that he posed a high risk of harm to children and a significant likelihood of reoffending sexually. The judge sentenced Gani to ten months in prison. Although the case involved persistent offending and was aggravated by the impact on the young victim and the presence of her cousin, the judge noted that Gani had no previous qualifying offences and therefore could not be sentenced to more than four years. The sentence reflected the gravity of the offence and the need for public protection.

Furthermore, Gani was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, both set to last for ten years, to prevent any further contact with the victim or similar offences. The case underscores the importance of safeguarding children and the serious consequences faced by those who commit such heinous acts.