MOHAMMED BASHIR'S SHOCKING CHILD SEX ABUSE IN NELSON AND BRIERFIELD
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Nelson and Brierfield, Mohammed Bashir, a 74-year-old former cafe owner, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for heinous acts of child sexual abuse that occurred over three decades ago.The court heard that Bashir, who resided on Albert Street in Nelson, had committed these crimes against a young girl during the late 1970s, exploiting opportunities to be alone with her and subjecting her to a series of disturbing acts.
According to the court proceedings, Bashir had deliberately arranged circumstances that allowed him to be alone with the victim.
During these encounters, he engaged in inappropriate conduct, including fondling her, undressing her, exposing himself, and even simulating sexual acts.
The severity of his actions was underscored by the fact that these assaults took place in private residences within Nelson and Brierfield, making the abuse even more insidious.
After these events, Bashir left the UK for several years to travel to Pakistan.
Upon his return, he continued his predatory behavior by targeting another young girl, whom he also sexually abused.
His criminal history includes a previous conviction in 1986, when he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for indecently assaulting this second victim.
In the recent case, Bashir pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault against the first girl.
The court also ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
Judge Simon Newell emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stating, "It was a serious form of indecent assault and it’s aggravated because of the girl’s age." The victim, who initially reported her abuse to the police a decade ago, had hesitated to pursue her allegations at first, citing concerns over her health.
However, she later came forward again, leading to a formal interview in January 2009.
During her testimony, she recounted how Bashir would initially act kindly, cuddling her and giving her sweets, but his behavior soon turned sinister.
The abuse left her deeply traumatized, with her revealing that she had attempted to take her own life and had begun to engage in troublesome behavior, which she attributed to the abuse she endured.
Following the investigation, Bashir was arrested in August 2009 and questioned under caution.
He denied any indecent acts during police interviews.
His defense lawyer, Martin Hackett, highlighted that Bashir’s family remained supportive and noted that he had not been involved in any trouble since his 1986 conviction.
Despite this, the court found his actions to be of a serious and disturbing nature, leading to his imprisonment and registration as a sex offender.
