Febuary 2001 Dad jailed for pool assault on girl, 11 A father-of-one has been jailed for a year for indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl in a swimming pool. Ajmal Mahmood, 25, was found guilty last month of indecently touching the youngster over her swimming costume at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford. The incident took place last April. Sentencing him, Judge Rodney Grant told him it was plain to see from the evidence that the girl was “extremely distressed” by what had happened. He said the offence was aggravated by the fact it took place in a swimming pool where young children very often go. Mahmood, of Maidstone Street, Bradford Moor, Bradford, was put on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. Under a new law, he was also disqualified from working with children for ten years. During the three-day trial at Bradford Crown Court the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was distressed as she gave evidence via a TV link to the jury. She told the court she had been standing near an island in the pool when she was lifted up from behind and indecently assaulted. She claimed Mahmood had been following her around the swimming area after he had earlier touched her on the stomach. The girl, who cannot swim, conceded the incident happened very quickly but rejected suggestions that she was mistaken. She claimed her cousin came to her aid and spoke to staff, who contacted the police.