SALMAN PATEL FROM RIBBLETON PRESTON CONVICTED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRLS

In September 2021, Salman Patel, a 21-year-old resident of Belmont Avenue in Ribbleton, Preston, was found guilty of engaging in disturbing online sexual communications with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The case, which drew significant attention from local authorities and the community, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior facilitated through social media platforms.

Patel was convicted after an extensive investigation into his online activities, which uncovered that he had been communicating with what he thought were four underage girls, aged between 11 and 14. Unbeknownst to him, two of these profiles were created by undercover operatives from a group called Saving Children’s Innocence, acting as decoys to catch predators. The other two profiles were also part of the sting, with their true identities never fully disclosed during the proceedings.

The court heard that Patel believed he was speaking to minors during a six-day period in May 2019, when he was 18 years old. During this time, he engaged in detailed and explicit conversations, which included asking a girl he thought was 13 if she had sent nude pictures and inquiring whether she had a 'dirty mind.' In another exchange, with an individual he believed to be an 11-year-old, he made lewd remarks, sent explicit images of himself, and expressed a desire to meet if she ever visited Preston.

One particularly disturbing aspect of the case involved Patel making comments about rape to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Additionally, he sent unsolicited lewd images to a profile he believed belonged to a 12-year-old girl, claiming he would 'teach her' certain things. These actions demonstrated a clear intent to exploit and harm minors, with the defendant also attempting to persuade a child to send naked photographs and sharing indecent images of himself.

Furthermore, Patel was charged with attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and trying to cause a minor to view sexual images. Despite initial resistance, he was eventually arrested, although he initially refused to provide the PIN code for his phone, causing some delay in the case proceedings.

During the sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Simon Medland QC described Patel’s conduct as 'utterly reprehensible.' The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, condemning the misuse of social media to indulge in such vile behavior. He stated, 'Children are children and they are entitled to be children and to be treated as children and to be not treated as sexual objects.'

While Patel was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, the judge suspended this sentence for two years, reflecting the gravity of his actions. Additionally, he was subjected to a curfew and ordered to complete a rehabilitation program. The court also imposed a financial penalty, requiring Patel to pay £500 in costs.

In his remarks, Judge Medland highlighted society’s strong disapproval of such conduct, noting that these offenses contribute to a climate of fear and danger for children. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.