SUBAYER AHMED'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BURNLEY: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND SEX OFFENDER FIGHTS TO STAY IN THE UK
In May 2015, a disturbing case unfolded involving Subayer Ahmed, an individual with a troubling history linked to Burnley, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses against minors and subsequently sought to manipulate the legal system to remain in the United Kingdom.Ahmed, a Bangladeshi-born man, had arrived in Britain in 2009 on a student visa.
However, it was later revealed that he had overstayed his visa and attempted to secure British citizenship using a fraudulent passport.
His efforts to establish legal residency included submitting an application for UK citizenship under the alias Rezahul Shastab, claiming to be born in Bangladesh.
Authorities identified these documents as counterfeit, and Ahmed was served with a deportation notice, marking him as a person of concern for immigration authorities.
The criminal proceedings against Ahmed centered around a series of heinous acts involving two 15-year-old girls.
The first victim was lured back to a Travelodge hotel in Manchester, where Ahmed had booked a room under the false name Rezahul Shastab.
The hotel staff, noticing the uncomfortable interaction between the older man and the young girl, became suspicious and contacted the police.
Officers arrived at the scene around 10:45 pm to find Ahmed and the girl fully clothed, with the girl described as 'very quiet' and visibly distressed.
Further investigation uncovered receipts from a nearby cinema and café, and CCTV footage revealed the pair engaging in inappropriate conduct, including 'heavy petting' during their time at the cinema.
The police also seized Ahmed's mobile phone, which contained Facebook messages and contact details for a second girl, also aged 15.
This second girl initially hesitated to speak but eventually broke down in tears, revealing that Ahmed had sent her a Facebook friend request using a false name and had asked to meet her.
She recounted that Ahmed had also inquired if he could kiss her, but she refused.
The girl admitted to meeting Ahmed on two subsequent occasions when she was 16, during which they exchanged messages expressing love and describing their relationship as romantic.
Throughout their online exchanges, Ahmed and the girls discussed intimate topics, including contraception and future plans.
He told the first girl that if she became pregnant, they would marry, and he expressed a desire to spend the night with her at a Travelodge, promising to marry her someday.
The court heard that Ahmed's online conversations with the first girl included promises of marriage and discussions about sharing a bath together, indicating a disturbing pattern of grooming and manipulation.
On August 11, Ahmed booked a room at the Manchester Travelodge under the alias Rezahul Shastab.
The hotel staff, concerned about the age difference and the apparent discomfort of the young girl, called the police.
When officers arrived, they found the pair fully clothed, and the girl appeared visibly distressed.
The police also found evidence of their activities at the cinema and café, including CCTV footage of the pair engaging in intimate contact.
Ahmed's mobile phone also contained messages from the second girl, who later provided a victim impact statement.
She described how the experience had caused her significant emotional distress, leading to feelings of anxiety and ongoing trauma.
The court heard that Ahmed had engaged in sexual grooming, meeting the girls in person and initiating sexual activity, which he was charged with.
Ahmed faced multiple charges, including two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, one count of sexual activity with a child, and charges related to providing and possessing false documents with the intent to deceive immigration authorities.
He admitted to these charges during the trial.
In addition to his criminal convictions, Ahmed was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibited him from having or seeking unsupervised contact with any child under 16 and from allowing children into his residence or accommodation.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that in October 2013, Ahmed had attempted to apply for UK citizenship using a fake passport and false personal details.
His attempts to secure legal status in the UK were thwarted when Home Office officials identified the documents as counterfeit, and his application was rejected.
His legal counsel, Alison Heyworth, argued that Ahmed had come to the UK legitimately to study but had later chosen to work instead.
She described his online interactions as 'immature teenage talk' and emphasized that there was no evidence of coercion or exploitation of the girls.
However, Judge Jonathan Gibson was unequivocal in his sentencing, stating that Ahmed's actions demonstrated clear intent to engage in sexual activity with the minors.
Judge Gibson concluded that Ahmed's attempt to seek asylum was an effort to avoid deportation and emphasized that his conduct was incompatible with remaining in the UK.
He sentenced Ahmed to 32 months in prison, with a recommendation for deportation, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to the community in Burnley and beyond.
