AWSAF AHMED SHOCKS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE WITH SEX OFFENCES IN LONDON AND BEDFORDSHIRE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Buckinghamshire and beyond, Awsaf Ahmed, a 30-year-old man from Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offences following a joint investigation by the British Transport Police (BTP) and Bedfordshire Police.Ahmed was found guilty by a jury at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, of raping a girl under the age of 16 and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
He had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity during an earlier hearing.
The court has scheduled his sentencing for Friday, 14 June 2024, where he was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Additionally, Ahmed was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
The court proceedings revealed chilling details of Ahmed’s predatory behavior.
On the night of Tuesday, 10 October 2023, at approximately 10:30 pm, the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was traveling on a train heading towards London Marylebone station.
It was during this journey that Ahmed entered her carriage and began engaging her and her friends in conversation.
He asked about their ages and whether they smoked weed, seemingly attempting to establish familiarity.
As the interaction progressed, Ahmed exerted pressure on the young girl to isolate herself from her friends.
He coerced her into speaking with him privately in the train’s toilets, insinuating that he had friends everywhere and making her fear for her safety and that of her friends.
Once inside the toilet, Ahmed locked the door and, despite her repeated pleas for him to stop, proceeded to rape her.
Following the assault, he added her on Snapchat, continuing to contact her afterward.
The victim reported the rape to British Transport Police the next day.
Later that evening, Ahmed contacted her via Snapchat, asking, “When do you turn 16?” and “Did you enjoy yesterday?” Less than a week later, Bedfordshire Police received a report involving Ahmed.
On 16 October 2023, Ahmed attempted to engage a 15-year-old girl in sexual activity.
The court heard that he initially engaged her in conversation about her jewelry and heritage, but the tone quickly shifted to threats.
He made alarming statements about having the ability to kill and to make someone disappear with just a text or call if disrespected.
The conversation then turned to relationships, with Ahmed asking the girl for relationship advice, her own relationship status, and sexual experience.
He then tried to coerce her into sexual activity.
Fortunately, the girl managed to leave the situation and reported the incident to Bedfordshire Police the following day.
Ahmed was arrested on 27 October and charged with offences related to the incidents on 10 and 11 October 2023.
The police investigations linked these offences, and he was further charged with the incident that occurred on 16 October 2023.
Detective Constable Matthew Nolan of the British Transport Police described Ahmed as “a callous predator who targeted young girls for his own sexual gratification.
Despite the victim’s repeated pleas for him to stop, he trapped her and raped her, making her fear for not only herself but her friend’s safety.
I hope the guilty verdict goes some way in bringing her some closure.” Detective Inspector Paul Attwell, senior investigating officer at BTP, emphasized the impact on the victims, stating, “These were extremely frightening experiences for Ahmed’s victims, and I praise them for reporting him so we could act.
Ahmed’s coercive and threatening behavior towards young, vulnerable girls will never be tolerated on the rail network, or anywhere else, and I’m thankful to see today’s verdict.” From Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People team, Detective Constable Rani Bailey added, “Ahmed’s behavior was unacceptable and his actions were predatory.
We are relentlessly pursuing those who think this behavior is acceptable, and we remain committed to bringing perpetrators of abuse to justice.
Regardless of what happened, if someone has made you feel uncomfortable or disrespected your boundaries, it is never too late to come forward and report what has happened to you.”
