Man jailed for grooming ‘vulnerable’ teenage girl
Shoaib Mohammed, a 34-year-old married man, has been jailed for 11 years for grooming and sexually abusing a girl he knew was 14. The judge said he manipulated her over several months, exploiting her emotional difficulties and presenting himself as a mentor and confidant.
Mohammed contacted the girl on Snapchat in 2021, encouraged her to send sexualised images, then arranged for her to travel from Leicester to meet him in Sheffield. He took her to hotels and repeatedly had sex with her; he pleaded guilty to nine offences, including sexual activity with a child and possessing indecent images. He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence, will be on extended licence for three years and is subject to a 15-year sexual harm prevention order. The victim described lasting difficulties trusting people and said delays in the case had prolonged the impact.
In short
- A 34-year-old man was jailed for grooming and abusing a 14-year-old girl.
- Mohammed received an 11-year sentence and a 15-year sexual harm prevention order.
- The victim said the case delay added to the impact of the abuse.
Explained simply
Grooming is when someone builds trust with a child or young person to manipulate or sexually exploit them. It can happen online and in person, and may involve presenting as a friend, mentor or confidant.
In England and Wales, sexual activity with someone under 16 is generally a criminal offence, even if they appear to agree. Snapchat is a messaging app where users can share messages and images; contact through social media can lead to meetings offline.
The case concerns the abuse of a 14-year-old girl and the lasting effects she described. It also involves safeguards used after serious sexual offences: an extended licence can place someone under supervision after prison, while a sexual harm prevention order can restrict their behaviour.