In a disturbing incident reported by Birmingham Live, Shaho Mustafa, a man from Leicester, engaged in sexually motivated harassment of a 14-year-old schoolboy outside a takeaway shop where he worked. The events unfolded on December 19, 2023, when the boy was walking past the shop on Harrison Road in Belgrave, Leicester, with his friends. Mustafa stepped out of the premises, blocked the boy's path, and began pestering him by complimenting his appearance, calling him 'handsome', and promising free chips if the boy provided his phone number, name, and social media account details such as Instagram or Snapchat.
The boy, understandably distressed, informed his teachers at school, who promptly contacted Leicestershire Police to report the repeated occurrences of the adult male blocking the pupil's path. In a statement read out in court, the victim described the impact of the harassment: 'This has made me more wary of people. The shop is close to where I live so I pass when I go to many places.' To avoid further encounters, the boy had to take a longer route to school, highlighting the ongoing fear and disruption caused by Mustafa's actions.
At Leicester Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Ravinder Darroch detailed the incident, noting that Mustafa was observed staring at the complainant as the group walked by and explicitly asking, 'Give me your number, I will give you chips inside - what's your name? Do you have an Instagram or Snapchat account?' The court determined that the harassment was sexually motivated, especially given Mustafa's prior conviction. In 2018, he had been jailed for 12 weeks for a sexual assault, underscoring a pattern of concerning behaviour.
Mustafa denied the charge of harassment without violence but was convicted following a trial where three children, including the victim, had to provide evidence. Defending barrister Farida Khan argued that Mustafa suffered from emotional and mental health issues, including trauma from his brother's death two years prior, which led to suicidal thoughts and impulsive urges. She claimed this reduced his culpability, stating, 'He doesn't understand what he's doing,' and noted his engagement with probation services and expressions of remorse.
However, the judge rejected these mitigation arguments, pointing to Mustafa's previous conviction and questioning the sincerity of his remorse: 'He's got a previous conviction for sexual assault. I can't agree with what you've just said and also question the issue of remorse.' The judge emphasised the seriousness of harassing a young child in a sexually motivated manner, sentencing Mustafa on October 6, 2025, to a 12-week prison term suspended for 18 months. Additional penalties included a 35-day rehabilitation programme requirement, a restraining order, and an order to pay £120 in compensation to the victim.
This case, covered by Leicestershire Live and Birmingham Mail, serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of young people and the importance of swift police and judicial intervention in cases of predatory behaviour.