MUBARAK SSALI'S CRIMES IN MANCHESTER: A WARNING TO PARENTS

In November 2007, a mother in Manchester issued a warning to other parents to vigilantly supervise their children’s online and mobile phone activities after her 14-year-old daughter was groomed by Mubarak Ssali, a 22-year-old Ugandan national who had been residing in Britain for six years. Ssali bombarded the girl with texts and emails over a period of two months before luring her to a house for sexual activity.

The victim’s mother described her daughter as feeling humiliated, shocked, and very frightened by the experience. Ssali was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Manchester Crown Court to charges of sexual grooming and unlawful sexual activity with a girl under 16. He is also required to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

The court heard that Ssali met the girl, now 15, by chance in Manchester in November 2006. She knew him only by the nickname ‘Lucky.’ Neil Fryman, prosecuting, explained that the girl had bumped into Ssali on the street and exchanged contact details, but they did not meet again until January, when the offense occurred. In the interim, Ssali communicated with her through texts, emails, and phone calls. The messages indicated she was still attending school.

Outside court, the girl’s mother spoke about how Ssali targeted her daughter’s quiet, shy, and private nature, knowing she was not streetwise. “She is not streetwise and he knew it. That is why he targeted her. It has left her feeling very vulnerable,” she said.

She also described noticing a change in her daughter’s behaviour, discovering the messages, and confronting her. She expressed her anguish over the past 11 months, calling it “hell,” and emphasized the importance of parental vigilance. “It is difficult to protect children these days,” she urged. “I would encourage open dialogue between children and parents regarding texts and emails, and parents should actively monitor their children's online and mobile activities.”

The court was informed that Ssali felt ‘isolated and alone,’ and he openly revealed his identity through the messages. Although the texts initially appeared to signal the start of a genuine relationship, they were not overtly sexual, as stated by defense lawyer Farrhat Arshad.