ZIA KHAIL FROM BLACKBURN SENTENCED FOR REPEATEDLY MOLESTING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THE UK
In January 2015, a disturbing case unfolded involving Zia Khail, an illegal immigrant from Afghanistan, who was convicted of repeatedly abusing a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in Blackburn.The court heard harrowing details of how Khail, a married man, exploited the innocence and trust of the young victim, grooming her over a period of time and subjecting her to sexual acts.
According to court proceedings, Khail, aged 29 at the time, manipulated the girl into believing they were in a romantic relationship, often referring to her as his girlfriend and claiming they were in love.
The young girl, from Blackburn, was led to believe that their interactions were consensual and based on mutual affection, but the court was told that Khail was abusive whenever she refused his advances.
The judge, Graham Knowles, emphasized the severity of the abuse, stating, “I am clear that you were abusing her.
She was a child.
You groomed her and you used her shamefully.” The prosecution revealed that the troubling relationship began when Khail, who was then living on Holland Street in Blackburn, first approached the girl in a park by winking at her.
Over time, he continued to approach her during her routine visits to a relative’s house, gradually escalating his contact.
The first direct interaction occurred when Khail stopped her in an alley, professed his love, and handed her a note with his mobile number.
Although the girl tore up the note, she later remembered the number, which facilitated their ongoing communication via social media platforms.
Prosecutor Mark Lamberty explained that Khail began following the girl regularly during her weekly visits, and that he would approach her as she went about her daily routine, including her trips to school.
The court heard that Khail’s behavior was not only persistent but also coercive.
The girl testified that Khail was abusive if she refused to engage in sexual activity, and that he forced her to have sex with him in various locations, including an alleyway and her own home.
The victim’s mother provided a statement to the court, expressing her distress and anger over her daughter’s trauma.
She described her daughter as suffering from low self-esteem and engaging in self-harm, highlighting the profound impact of Khail’s actions.
The case came to police attention after the girl reported other men who had also abused her, prompting an investigation.
Authorities managed to track down Khail after DNA evidence found in the girl’s underwear was matched to a database at Colnbrook Immigration Centre, located at Heathrow Airport, where Khail was awaiting deportation.
This evidence was crucial in linking him to the crimes.
During the trial, Khail’s defense argued that his lack of proficiency in English would make his imprisonment particularly difficult, but the court maintained that justice must be served.
Judge Graham Knowles sentenced Khail to a total of eleven years in prison, with eight years to be served in custody and the remaining three on license.
Additionally, Khail was ordered to comply with notification requirements, a sexual offences prevention order, and to remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
The judge also stated that the deportation process would be handled separately by the appropriate authorities.
In his remarks, Judge Knowles emphasized the importance of protecting young girls from grooming and exploitation, stating, “Finding grown men attractive or interesting is a part of growing up for teenage girls.
They are entitled to be left alone with their thoughts, not groomed by men who want underage sex.” Following the sentencing, DC Madeleine Barrientos commented on the case, highlighting the seriousness of the offenses and the support available to the victim.
A Home Office spokesperson reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to removing foreign nationals who commit crimes, noting that more than 22,000 individuals have been deported since 2010, although they did not comment on this specific case.
