MOHAMMED KHAN FROM WATFORD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CASSIOBURY PARK

In a case that has shocked the local community, Mohammed Khan, a 21-year-old resident of Watford, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for the indecent assault of a 14-year-old girl. The incident took place during a May fair held in Cassiobury Park, a popular recreational area in Watford, and the court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the events leading up to the assault.

Mohammed Khan, who was living on Hodges Way in Watford at the time, was only 19 years old when the assault occurred. It is noteworthy that he had recently been released from detention for previous criminal offences, which added a layer of concern regarding his pattern of behavior. The case was heard at Aylesbury Crown Court, where Judge Daniel Rodwell QC presided over the proceedings.

During the trial, the judge acknowledged that Khan had avoided a more severe sentence because he chose to plead guilty, thereby sparing his young victim from the ordeal of giving evidence in court. Khan admitted to indecently assaulting the girl on May 31, 1999, but he denied the charge of rape. The court, however, found sufficient evidence to convict him of the indecent assault, while a not guilty verdict was entered on the rape charge.

The prosecution, led by Miss Rosa Dean, explained that Khan’s plea was based on the fact that the assault was non-consensual. The court was informed that the victim, a girl from South Oxhey, and her friend had gone to the fair in Cassiobury Park, where they encountered Khan along with another man. The girls had been drinking alcohol prior to the incident, and the 14-year-old girl was described as being quite intoxicated, or “tipsy,” at the time.

According to the court, the girls purchased more alcohol and then left in a car owned by Khan’s friend. They drove for several hours, eventually stopping in Aylesbury. During this time, the girl, who was heavily intoxicated, left the vehicle to use the bushes as a toilet. It was at this point that Khan followed her, and upon her return to the car, she was visibly distressed, crying hysterically and telling her friend, “I pushed him away. He really hurt me.”

The court heard that the girl suffered physical injuries, including bruising to her legs, and experienced ongoing emotional distress, with her mother describing her as being depressed and withdrawn since the incident. The victim’s suffering was a central aspect of the case, highlighting the serious impact of the assault.

Khan was not apprehended until July of the following year, after he returned from a trip to Pakistan. Although he was not identified through a traditional identification parade, authorities linked him to the crime through DNA evidence, which proved crucial in securing his conviction.

During the defense hearing, lawyer Paul Wakerley emphasized that Khan had no prior history of sexual offences, despite previous convictions for violence. He also pointed out that Khan had been released from custody in February 1999 and was not considered a psychiatric risk for re-offending in such a manner. Wakerley expressed his client’s shock upon learning the age of his victim, underscoring the unexpected nature of the offence.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Rodwell condemned Khan’s actions as “a disgraceful episode.” He stated, “You knew perfectly well the state this young girl was in and when she got out of the car to go to the lavatory you went and assaulted her and, as you have accepted, that was against her will.” The judge’s remarks underscored the gravity of the crime and the breach of trust involved in the incident, which has left a lasting impact on the victim and her family.