Bradford Man Jailed For Grooming Young Asian Girl

4 September 2014, 13:09 | Updated: 4 September 2014, 13:39

A Bradford man who groomed a young Asian girl on social media before sexually assaulting her has been jailed for six years.

Akif Ali, aged 24, of Cumberland Road, Lidget Green was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 September after he pleaded guilty to four sexual offences in June of this year.

He was also given four years extended licence and a comprehensive Sex Offender Prevention Order.

Ali, who was already a registered sex offender, targeted the girl, then 15, over a period of months before he met and sexually assaulted her at a location in Bradford in February.

Ali was also convicted of exposing himself to a 16-year-old Asian girl in Horton Park in the same month.

Detective Inspector Vanessa Smith, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said:

'I would like to thank the victims and their families for coming forward and reporting Ali's crimes to the police.

'We are pleased with the sentence he has received and hope it will bring them some comfort.

'West Yorkshire Police is committed to investigating all reports of sexual abuse, including online grooming, and we hope that this conviction will encourage other victims to come forward.

All reports will be investigated sensitively and thoroughly by specially trained officers, with the aim of securing a conviction against offenders.'