Fazal Mateen

A former care home worker from Bradford has been imprisoned for sexually assaulting two women, in offences that have ended his career in the caring sector. Fazal Mateen, aged 45, appeared at Bradford Crown Court where he was sentenced to 23 months' custody by Judge Christopher Smith. The judge emphasised the severity of the crimes, stating that Mateen would almost certainly never work in the caring industry again due to the nature of his convictions.

The court heard details of the assaults, though full particulars were restricted to protect the identities of the complainants. In the first incident, Mateen sat next to one woman and placed her hand on his crotch area. The second offence occurred a year later, during which he grabbed another woman's hands and attempted to move them towards his penis, while also touching her bottom. These actions were described as significant breaches of trust, particularly given Mateen's previous role working with vulnerable individuals in a care home setting.

Mateen, residing at Tivoli Place near Little Horton Lane in Bradford, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. This plea spared the victims from having to give evidence, earning him credit in sentencing. However, Judge Smith highlighted the absence of remorse from Mateen, noting that his pre-sentence report revealed an outright denial of the offences. 'You told the probation officer these things had not happened,' the judge remarked. 'So it goes beyond simply an absence of remorse. It goes to an outright denial.'

In addition to the immediate custodial sentence, Mateen was issued with a restraining order banning contact with the two complainants. He must also register as a sex offender with the police for the next 10 years and is now subject to barring from working with children and other vulnerable groups. The judge concluded that the offences were too serious to warrant a suspended sentence, despite Mateen having no prior convictions.

The case was heard at Bradford Crown Court, with reporting by John Davies for the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. West Yorkshire Police were involved in the investigation, though specific details of their role were not outlined in court proceedings.