Hasan Farooq

Hasan Farooq, a 24-year-old man from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court for engaging in sexual communications with a child. The case, reported by The Telegraph & Argus, detailed how Farooq initiated contact with the underage victim in February 2022 via Twitter, using the pseudonym 'Kai' and falsely claiming to be in his early 20s living in the Birmingham area.

The victim explicitly informed Farooq that she was under 16, yet he proceeded to exchange thousands of messages and voice notes containing sexual references and discussions of acts he wished to perform with her. Prosecutor Kathryn Pitters outlined during the hearing that Farooq sent the girl images of a white male exposing his penis, while she reciprocated with a photo of herself in underwear, to which he responded by stating his intention to masturbate over it. This grooming behaviour persisted even after the victim's mother raised concerns about her daughter's secretive and depressed demeanour, leading to police involvement.

Despite initial scrutiny of the victim's phone by authorities, Farooq continued messaging her under his real name, fabricating an elaborate story about 'Kai' being assaulted, raped, and hospitalised to manipulate her emotions and maintain contact. He sent further sexualised messages, leaving the victim upset and sobbing. Farooq was arrested at his workplace in Keighley in June 2023, where multiple phones were seized. In his police interview, he admitted to the messaging but denied any sexual interest in children, instead claiming the victim had manipulated him.

Post-arrest, while on bail, Farooq attempted to influence the victim through friends, urging her to drop the case. The victim provided a statement describing the near-constant 24-hour contact, which caused her significant anxiety and led to self-harm. Farooq, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the charge in advance of trial. In mitigation, his defence highlighted his candour with police, acknowledgment of wrongdoing, immaturity at the time (aged 20-21), excessive online time, mental health issues, and ADHD. He was portrayed as an 'unimpressive young man' who had since matured and sought to address his behaviour.

Sentencing Judge Ahmed Nadim rejected any notion of shared responsibility, stating: 'I find it concerning the suggestion that the responsibility for what occurred can be shifted onto the complainant. Children do not manipulate adults into committing sexual offences. The responsibility lies solely with the adult who chooses to engage in such communication. You were that adult.' Farooq was jailed for 17 months, ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration. The case was handled by West Yorkshire Police.