Peterborough: Man Jailed For Sex With Girl

10 July 2013, 12:44 | Updated: 10 July 2013, 12:54

A Peterborough man who had sex with a 15-year-old girl has been jailed and given a restraining order.

Zaheer Abbas, 30, of Harris Street, Peterborough, struck up a relationship with the teenager in 2010 and began a sexual relationship, taking her to hotels around the county.

The girl came forward to police after alleging that he had raped and assaulted her at a hotel earlier this year.

Abbas was arrested and convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16 after a trial at Peterborough Crown Court. He was cleared of rape and causing actual bodily harm.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years on Monday (July 1) put on the Sex Offenders' Register and also made subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

Detective Sergeant Amerjit Singh, who led the investigation, said: "Abbas is a manipulative and controlling individual who preyed on this girl who was young and innocent.

"It must have been a terrifying experience for her and I commend her bravery in coming forward to give evidence against him.

"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that offences of this nature are not tolerated, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary will take robust action against those responsible.

"We encourage any victim of serious sexual violence to come forward and report offences.

"We will do everything in our power to help and support victims of these horrendous crimes."