RAJA SALEEM SENTENCED IN HALIFAX FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In January 2006, a man named Raja Saleem was sentenced to a two-year prison term after being convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. The incident took place in Halifax, where Saleem, aged 24 at the time, had developed a relationship with the young girl, whom he met while residing with family members in the Hopwood Lane area.

According to court proceedings, Saleem and the girl had a consensual relationship, during which she lost her virginity to him. The court was informed that Saleem had also transmitted a sexually transmitted disease to the girl, a fact that was confirmed by medical evidence presented during the trial. The relationship came to light after the girl’s mother discovered it, prompting her to report the matter to the police.

During the trial, Paul Fleming, representing Saleem, argued that his client was not a predatory paedophile nor someone who had groomed the young girl. Fleming emphasized that the relationship was not akin to an older man targeting a much younger girl, but rather a relationship that had developed from a friendship. He sought to portray Saleem as someone who was not involved in any malicious intent.

It was also revealed that Saleem, who was 23 at the time of the offence, had moved from Luton to Halifax in an effort to start anew with his family. Despite this, the court found the evidence compelling enough to convict him of the charges.

Her Honour Judge Linda Sutcliffe addressed the court, stating, “The law is designed to protect young girls from their own weaknesses, girls who find themselves attracted to young men who are good-looking and attractive.” She further remarked to Saleem, “The girl lost her virginity to you. I am quite satisfied that there can be no other sensible explanation for the sexual disease other than she got it from you.”

As a result of his conviction, Saleem was sentenced to two years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and was subjected to a sexual offences protection order. This order prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with minors for five years, aiming to prevent any further harm or inappropriate interactions with young people in the future.