ADNAN ALI FROM MANCHESTER CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSE INVOLVING TEENAGERS IN TRAFFORD

In April 2023, a disturbing case unfolded involving Adnan Ali, a man with a history of law enforcement service in Manchester, who was found guilty of multiple charges related to sexual misconduct and abuse. Ali, who was once a police officer, had been entrusted with overseeing the Trafford volunteer police cadet scheme, a program designed to engage and educate young people aged between 13 and 17. However, his role was marred by allegations of exploitation, turning what should have been a community service into a disturbing environment of grooming and abuse.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Ali, often referred to as Adz, used his position to manipulate vulnerable teenagers. The court heard that he had Superman imagery on his cadet leader’s hoodie and underpants, a detail that underscored the inappropriate and unprofessional conduct associated with his role. The investigation uncovered that Ali frequently made late-night phone calls to some of his victims, both boys and girls, which were deemed inappropriate and predatory. Additionally, he sent explicit photographs of himself, including images taken in the bath or on the toilet, further demonstrating his misconduct.

Ali’s tenure as the leader of the Trafford volunteer police cadets spanned from 2013 to 2018. During this period, he worked closely with teenagers, some of whom he later formed personal relationships with. Notably, the court heard that Ali developed a relationship with one cadet, who eventually gave birth to his child. His legal representatives stated that Ali has since identified as bisexual, a detail presented during the proceedings. The court also learned that Ali engaged in sending indecent images, including those of himself, and engaged in sexualized conversations via text messages and social media platforms with multiple teenage boys.

The conviction included 15 counts of misconduct and five counts of sexual assault. Ali was found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls and a 17-year-old boy. Furthermore, he was convicted of engaging in sexualized conversations with six other teenage boys, requesting and sending them indecent images. His inappropriate behavior extended to attempting to kiss a 17-year-old cadet, massaging his shoulders, and offering to take another 17-year-old boy to a brothel. Two teenage girls were also victims of his inappropriate touching.

Additional allegations detailed that Ali told a 15-year-old boy he was not permitted to change his trousers in the toilets but had to do so in the same room as him, an act that raised serious safeguarding concerns. The court heard that Ali’s misconduct was partly linked to his mental health struggles, as he had returned to work after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following a serious knife injury sustained while on duty earlier that year.

The investigation conducted by the Independent Office of Police Complaints (IOPC) highlighted significant failings within the police force’s oversight of cadet leaders. It pointed out issues such as inconsistent training and a lack of proper safeguarding measures, which allowed Ali’s misconduct to go unchecked for years.

Ali is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, and the case has raised serious questions about the safeguarding protocols within police youth programs and the oversight of officers involved in such schemes.