ADAM SALEEM SHOCKS MANCHESTER WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRLS AT HALE BARN'S HOTEL
In August 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded at a guest house in Hale Barns, Trafford, involving Adam Saleem, a man with a complex background including service as an Army intelligence officer and work as an IT consultant.Saleem, who was the owner of the Hale Barns House guest house situated on Hasty Lane, became the focus of a serious criminal case after allegations of sexual misconduct involving two young girls surfaced.
According to court proceedings, Saleem invited the two girls, who were staying at his hotel with their parents, into his private bedroom under the pretense of showing them his pet cats.
The girls, who were booked into the guest house for a single night before their flight from nearby Manchester Airport, accepted the invitation.
However, what was supposed to be a harmless visit turned into a distressing ordeal.
The court heard that Saleem shut his bedroom door and proceeded to inappropriately touch the girls.
The assault lasted approximately fifty seconds, during which the victims were too frightened to speak out.
The incident was only interrupted when their father, unaware of what was happening, knocked on the door and entered the room, telling the girls it was time for bed.
The family left the hotel shortly afterward, and the girls remained silent about the assault at the time, likely out of fear.
It was only six months later that the truth emerged.
The older sister confided in her mother after their father watched a television program about a missing child, which prompted him to tell his daughters that they could speak to him if they ever encountered any 'nasty men.' Subsequently, the older girl was interviewed by police, revealing the details of the assault.
The younger sister, being too young, was not questioned at that time.
In her statement, the older sister recounted the events: “He’s got three cats so we went into his room, my older sister and my little sister and me.
We went into the room and he offered if we wanted to see the cats so we went in and my older sister, she went to stroke the cats on the other side of the room and then he started to touch us.
I felt too scared to say anything but then my dad came in.
He didn’t know what happened.
It went on for around 50 seconds.
He just kept doing it and doing it.
I was just scared and he did the same thing to my sister.
We were chasing the cats and he offered if we wanted to come into his room as he had a lot of cats.” Prosecutor Nicola Gatto addressed the jury, emphasizing the impact on the victims: “During the holiday and afterwards, the parents noticed a change in their daughter and described her as being very emotional and clingy, and she didn’t speak about their holiday upon their return.
They were quite concerned about her.
Later that year, the father watched a film about a missing child.
He spoke to his daughters, alongside his wife, and said if they were ever worried about anything, they could talk to him.
The eldest daughter told her sister that she had to tell someone, and then said that the defendant was not a nice man.” Adam Saleem, who is a father of three and was regarded as a respected figure within his local mosque community, denied all allegations.
He claimed that he left his door open intentionally, as the children entered his room while he was dozing, and that he did not touch the girls in any inappropriate manner.
Saleem stated, “The parents were sorting out their room and I left my room open in case they needed something.
I dozed off and I became aware the children had come into my room and were stroking the cats.
A few moments later their father came into the room and apologized to me for them disturbing me and he took the children out.
I did not touch the children in any way.
I am completely innocent.” Following the trial, Saleem was ordered to register as a sex offender and was prohibited from allowing children into his guest house.
The sentencing hearing was scheduled for September 28, where further legal actions and penalties are expected to be announced.
