Atif Arif

A 46-year-old man from Burnley, Lancashire, was sentenced at Blackburn Magistrates' Court for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child after being caught in an online sting operation conducted by undercover police.

The incident occurred in September 2024 when Atif Arif, of Sandhurst Street, Burnley, initiated contact via an online platform with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him, the account was operated by an undercover police officer as a decoy to identify potential child sex offenders. According to court proceedings reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, Arif began the conversation innocuously by discussing school matters before quickly escalating to inappropriate topics.

Prosecutor Zulekha Bhuta detailed how Arif requested photographs of the 'girl' in the shower and made explicit references to her performing a sex act on him, as well as suggesting they watch pornography together. During these exchanges, Arif sent images of his penis, which were deemed indecent. The court heard that Arif pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Waseem Chowdhary emphasised that Arif had no previous convictions and expressed remorse, stating that his client did not wish to minimise his wrongful behaviour. Chowdhary noted that the offence stemmed from a single message that led to the inappropriate conversation and the sharing of indecent images.

Atif Arif was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and required to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge, and £85 in costs. The case highlights ongoing police efforts in Lancashire to safeguard children from online predators through proactive decoy operations.