NOTTINGHAM GROOMING TEACHER HAMZAH ZAFAR GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE
A supply teacher groomed a girl by buying her expensive gifts and bombarding her with Snapchat messages.Hamzah Zafar of Haslemere Road, Whitemoor, Nottingham, was arrested after rumours spread of his offending.
Detectives seized his mobile phone and the device had been encrypted, so initially no data could be extracted.
However, it was possible to unlock it and the data was recovered.
It included evidence that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl.
The 32-year-old had also bought gifts for the girl, including for Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
Zafar pleaded not guilty to five charges at Nottingham Crown Court.
A jury found him guilty of two counts including meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming and sexual activity with a child.
A further three counts of sexual activity with a child, sexual exploitation of a child and attempting to cause a child to watch / look at an image of sexual activity were left to lie on file.
A judge sentenced Zafar to a sexual harm prevention order lasting five years.
He was also ordered to undergo mental health treatment for two years.
Zafar was arrested in March 2018 after a safeguarding referral was made to police.
As part of the investigation, detectives contacted JD Sports, which confirmed Zafar had purchased trainers found at the pupil's address.
Officers also contacted a florist, which confirmed Zafar had ordered a Valentine’s bundle and had them delivered to the pupil's home.
When the evidence was presented to Zafar in a police interview, he declined to comment.
Following the sentencing, Chief Inspector Joanna Elbourn, of Nottinghamshire Police’s public protection team, said: “This was a disturbing case and I am thankful for the courage shown by the victim in stepping forward.
“Nottinghamshire Police takes reports of such matters seriously and will always investigate them, working with the Crown Prosecution Service to put a robust case to the courts.”
