ADAM SALEEM HORRORS IN HALE: EX-ARMY OFFICER JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRLS AT HIS B&B NEAR MANCHESTER AIRPORT
| Red Rose Database
Hale Sexual Abuser
In December 2019, the community of Hale was shaken by the revelation of heinous crimes committed by Adam Saleem, a man with a complex and troubling history. Saleem, aged 47, who once served as an intelligence officer in the army, was convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving young girls at his Bed & Breakfast establishment located near Manchester Airport. His actions, which spanned several years, have left a lasting scar on the victims and have prompted a serious legal response.
Saleem’s criminal activities first came to light in October 2018, when he was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two young sisters aged four and eight. These assaults occurred in March 2017, during a family holiday at his B&B, which he promoted as a 'family-friendly' venue and a sanctuary for rescued cats. The sisters, who were due to fly to Florida for a birthday celebration, were lured into Saleem’s bedroom under the pretext of showing them his rescue cats. Unfortunately, this visit turned into a traumatic experience for the young girls, who were too frightened to disclose what had happened at the time. Their family remained unaware of the abuse until one of the sisters confided in her mother after watching a television program about missing children, prompting the family to report the incident to the police.
Following his initial conviction, Saleem’s dark history did not end. The case took a disturbing turn when, just weeks after serving his first sentence, a new complaint emerged involving a nine-year-old girl, known as 'Family C.' The girl and her parents had booked into Saleem’s B&B in 2017 for a one-night stay before heading to Spain. Saleem, who had met the family and assigned them a ground-floor family room, became fixated on the young girl. The molestation occurred after Saleem showed her the bathroom, then lured her to see his cats, which she did along with her family. While her parents were preparing for bed, Saleem targeted the girl alone. He followed her into the bathroom where he inappropriately touched her by placing his hands down her pyjama bottoms. The frightened girl returned to her family’s room, but she was too embarrassed to tell her parents immediately. It was only later, when her mother asked about her distant behavior, that she revealed the abuse.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Saleem refused to stand in the dock, claiming that the conviction was 'unjust and tyrannical.' He dismissed his legal counsel during proceedings and chose to deliver his own defense speech to the jury. Judge John Potter condemned Saleem’s conduct, stating, “You said this girl was mistaken in what she said and you denied ever meeting her or her family. You also accused her parents of colluding dishonestly to falsely accuse you. These were serious and damaging allegations, and your lies to the police and the jury were evident. Your willingness to make such false claims during cross-examination demonstrates a complete lack of remorse. Your attempt to manipulate the trial by dismissing your lawyer and making your own closing speech was disingenuous and dishonest. This behavior portrays you as a risk-taking, controlling, and untrustworthy individual. The victim, now aged 11, provided truthful testimony about your abuse, and while she appears to be coping, the memory of your actions will remain with her for some time.”
Saleem, a father of three, was once a respected figure in his local mosque, known as a 'Hafiza of the Quran' due to his memorization of the Islamic holy book. His professional background was equally impressive, having worked as an airline IT security officer for Thomas Cook, served in military intelligence—including claims of SAS involvement—before suffering injuries in a skiing accident. He also claimed to have worked as Head of IT for Manchester United, as well as for the United Nations in the Middle East, and later as an air traffic system controller at Heathrow Airport.
His previous victims, the two sisters, were targeted as they prepared to leave for Florida. Saleem lured them into his bedroom under the pretext of showing them his rescue cats, but instead, he sexually assaulted them. The family remained unaware of the abuse until they returned from their holiday, when one sister confided in her mother after a TV program about missing children prompted her to speak out. The police investigation confirmed Saleem’s guilt, and he was subsequently convicted of two counts of indecent assault.
In addition to his prison sentence, Saleem was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His case highlights the disturbing pattern of abuse by someone who was once regarded as a trusted community figure, but who exploited that trust for his own perverse desires. The community of Hale, near Altrincham, continues to grapple with the aftermath of these revelations, and the victims are now seeking closure after enduring such traumatic experiences at the hands of someone they once believed to be a protector.
Saleem’s criminal activities first came to light in October 2018, when he was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two young sisters aged four and eight. These assaults occurred in March 2017, during a family holiday at his B&B, which he promoted as a 'family-friendly' venue and a sanctuary for rescued cats. The sisters, who were due to fly to Florida for a birthday celebration, were lured into Saleem’s bedroom under the pretext of showing them his rescue cats. Unfortunately, this visit turned into a traumatic experience for the young girls, who were too frightened to disclose what had happened at the time. Their family remained unaware of the abuse until one of the sisters confided in her mother after watching a television program about missing children, prompting the family to report the incident to the police.
Following his initial conviction, Saleem’s dark history did not end. The case took a disturbing turn when, just weeks after serving his first sentence, a new complaint emerged involving a nine-year-old girl, known as 'Family C.' The girl and her parents had booked into Saleem’s B&B in 2017 for a one-night stay before heading to Spain. Saleem, who had met the family and assigned them a ground-floor family room, became fixated on the young girl. The molestation occurred after Saleem showed her the bathroom, then lured her to see his cats, which she did along with her family. While her parents were preparing for bed, Saleem targeted the girl alone. He followed her into the bathroom where he inappropriately touched her by placing his hands down her pyjama bottoms. The frightened girl returned to her family’s room, but she was too embarrassed to tell her parents immediately. It was only later, when her mother asked about her distant behavior, that she revealed the abuse.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Saleem refused to stand in the dock, claiming that the conviction was 'unjust and tyrannical.' He dismissed his legal counsel during proceedings and chose to deliver his own defense speech to the jury. Judge John Potter condemned Saleem’s conduct, stating, “You said this girl was mistaken in what she said and you denied ever meeting her or her family. You also accused her parents of colluding dishonestly to falsely accuse you. These were serious and damaging allegations, and your lies to the police and the jury were evident. Your willingness to make such false claims during cross-examination demonstrates a complete lack of remorse. Your attempt to manipulate the trial by dismissing your lawyer and making your own closing speech was disingenuous and dishonest. This behavior portrays you as a risk-taking, controlling, and untrustworthy individual. The victim, now aged 11, provided truthful testimony about your abuse, and while she appears to be coping, the memory of your actions will remain with her for some time.”
Saleem, a father of three, was once a respected figure in his local mosque, known as a 'Hafiza of the Quran' due to his memorization of the Islamic holy book. His professional background was equally impressive, having worked as an airline IT security officer for Thomas Cook, served in military intelligence—including claims of SAS involvement—before suffering injuries in a skiing accident. He also claimed to have worked as Head of IT for Manchester United, as well as for the United Nations in the Middle East, and later as an air traffic system controller at Heathrow Airport.
His previous victims, the two sisters, were targeted as they prepared to leave for Florida. Saleem lured them into his bedroom under the pretext of showing them his rescue cats, but instead, he sexually assaulted them. The family remained unaware of the abuse until they returned from their holiday, when one sister confided in her mother after a TV program about missing children prompted her to speak out. The police investigation confirmed Saleem’s guilt, and he was subsequently convicted of two counts of indecent assault.
In addition to his prison sentence, Saleem was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His case highlights the disturbing pattern of abuse by someone who was once regarded as a trusted community figure, but who exploited that trust for his own perverse desires. The community of Hale, near Altrincham, continues to grapple with the aftermath of these revelations, and the victims are now seeking closure after enduring such traumatic experiences at the hands of someone they once believed to be a protector.