FAROOQ AHMED FROM ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRL IN TAMESIDE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ashton-under-Lyne and the wider Tameside area, Farooq Ahmed, a former police officer, has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting a young girl. The offences, which occurred in 2016, came to light only after Ahmed voluntarily confessed to the crimes in November of the previous year, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Ahmed, who resided on Mossley Road in Ashton-under-Lyne, targeted the girl when she was still attending primary school. The court heard that on three separate occasions, he engaged in inappropriate and criminal behavior towards her. The first incident involved the girl waking up to find her clothing had been removed without her consent. On two subsequent occasions, Ahmed touched her private parts and, in one instance, licked her intimate areas. The final incident was particularly egregious, as he filmed himself performing these acts but quickly deleted the footage afterward. Additionally, he made sure that her hand was touching his genitalia during one of these encounters.

These offences took place in 2016, but it was only in November of the following year that the victim’s mother discovered the truth. Her daughter’s trauma and the devastating impact of the assaults were detailed in a victim impact statement read out in court. The mother described her world falling apart upon learning what had happened, expressing her shock, tears, and the profound effect the incidents had on her family’s life.

Farooq Ahmed’s arrest and confession led to his being charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of making an indecent image of a child. He admitted to these charges in December and appeared before Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday for sentencing. Prosecutor Brian Berlyne confirmed that Ahmed was employed by Greater Manchester Police at the time of the offences. However, the court was informed that Ahmed had been suspended from duty, and it was unclear whether he had resigned or was still receiving pay from the force.

Judge Nicholas Clarke, presiding over the case, expressed concern for the young victim, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes committed while she was still in primary school. The judge sentenced Ahmed to two years in prison, ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register, and imposed a sexual harm prevention order for five years. In his remarks, Judge Clarke acknowledged the difficult circumstances of serving this sentence, especially given Ahmed’s previous role as a police officer, and highlighted the profound impact of the crimes on the victim and her family.