BLACKBURN MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Ali Hassan, aged 31, was convicted after engaging in online grooming of a 12-year-old girl through decoy accounts.Hassan believed he was communicating with multiple young girls aged between 12 and 14, but he was actually talking to paedophile hunters.
It was revealed that Hassan initially contacted a decoy account called 'Stephanie Miller' on October 6, 2021, with a simple 'hi' message.
Despite the girl replying that she was 14, the conversations turned sexual, with Hassan sending images and videos of kissing and discussing intimate acts, including 'boob sucking.' Hassan also sent a love poem to one of the accounts, which read: 'Can I say I love you today.
If not, can I ask again tomorrow and the day after and day after that because I'll be loving you every single day of my life.' He expressed feelings of love and also proposed meeting up, suggesting the girl come to Blackburn.
On November 7, 2021, Hassan was caught at Blackburn train station by paedophile hunters, who notified police.
Further investigation uncovered evidence of sexual communication with three other girls, all through decoy accounts.
The court heard that Hassan used 'flowery language' and sought to flatter the girls, mainly talking about kissing and love.
Hassan admitted to charges including arranging and facilitating a child sex offence and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He was sentenced to 22 months and two weeks in prison, and was also ordered to be subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year notification requirement.
