MUHAMMAD RIAZ AND SHOCKING CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRADFORD AND STOCKTON
A man faces potential imprisonment after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl, a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Bradford and Stockton.Muhammad Riaz, aged 26, was convicted on a single charge of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 during a trial held at Teesside Crown Court.
Riaz had denied the allegations, which involved the assault of the young girl in Stockton.
However, after a thorough trial, the jury reached a unanimous verdict of guilt on Wednesday, confirming his involvement in the serious offense.
The conviction marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address child sexual abuse within the region.
Following the jury’s decision, Judge Stephen Ashurst addressed the court and the defendant, stating, "I think this is a case where I ought to obtain a report about the defendant, about his personal circumstances, and also his immigration status.
And also to assess the risk factors and his attitude in light of the jury's unanimous verdict this morning." The judge emphasized the importance of understanding Riaz’s background before proceeding with sentencing.
Judge Ashurst further explained that the next step involves considering the appropriate sentence, which will be determined after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council.
He expressed a desire to learn more about Riaz’s personal and family circumstances to better assess potential risk factors associated with his case.
The court scheduled Riaz’s sentencing for February 25, and he was granted bail under specific conditions.
He is required to reside at Oak Mount in Bradford, surrender his Pakistani passport to the police, and refrain from applying for any travel documents that could enable him to leave the UK.
Additionally, Riaz will be placed on the sex offenders' register, a legal requirement following his conviction.
In his remarks, Judge Ashurst highlighted the legal obligations that come with such a conviction, stating, "The fact that you've been convicted of the sexual assault of a child under 13 means that you are now subject to notification under the sex offenders legislation.
You are required by law to tell the police of any change in your personal circumstances.
If you fail to do so, you commit a criminal offense for which you can receive up to five years in prison." He also clarified that the bail and report request should not be interpreted as any indication of the final sentence, which remains uncertain until the court hears further submissions.
The judge concluded by thanking the jurors for their careful deliberation and reminded Riaz that no promises regarding his ultimate sentence have been made.
Riaz was then allowed to leave the dock, awaiting his sentencing hearing, which will determine the severity of his punishment for this grave offense.
