BARNSLEY MAN ZIAD TAIBI JAILED FOR CHILD RAPE
A man aged 41 from Barnsley has been sentenced to prison after he sexually assaulted a child who was vulnerable and found wandering alone through the town in the early hours.Sheffield Crown Court heard that Ziad Taibi followed his 11-year-old victim through Barnsley town centre on September 10, initiating conversation about the child’s age.
He then persuaded the child to come to his home, assuring them of their safety.
Once there, Taibi carried out a sexual assault and rape, and after the incident, he instructed the child to leave.
Soon after, he began planning to escape from the area to avoid being caught.
Police officers quickly apprehended him and charged him with several child sexual offenses.
On October 12, he pleaded guilty to two counts of child rape, sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, and sexual assault of a child under 13.
Yesterday, December 21, Taibi was sentenced to 15 years in prison during a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.
Detective Constable Alice Gilbert acknowledged the bravery shown by the victim in coming forward and providing essential evidence that led to the identification and prosecution of the suspect.
She praised the work of Barnsley CID and other policing teams who conducted around-the-clock investigations, including reviewing extensive CCTV footage and visiting multiple locations, which ultimately facilitated the swift arrest of Taibi.
DC Gilbert emphasized that such thorough investigations yielded vital evidence and ensured justice was served promptly.
She added that the case was traumatic for the community but expressed hope that the sentence would help the victim recover.
She also thanked the victim for their courage during an extremely difficult time.
The police reiterated their seriousness about tackling sexual crimes and urged children and adults to report any incidents of abuse, assuring continuous support for victims.
