Mohammed Kahlil Aziz

Mohammed Kahlil Aziz, 39, of Goldfinch Street, Preston, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a series of child sex offences committed over several years. The offences, which included attempted rape and sexual assault, took place in both Cumbria and Lancashire, targeting vulnerable children.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Aziz was convicted by a jury following an earlier hearing. He received his sentence today for the attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault against a child in the Penrith area of Cumbria, occurring between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, he was sentenced for a further attempted rape and sexual assault against a child in Lancashire in 2007. The court imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Aziz to protect the public from future harm.

Detective Constable Adam Braniff of North Cumbria CID commented on the Cumbria offences: 'I am pleased to see that justice has been served and that Aziz will be going away for his despicable actions. In relation to the offences he committed in Cumbria, Aziz took advantage of a child and made them feel as if they could not speak out on what he had done to them. Throughout his interviews Aziz denied all the offences put towards him by detectives which I believe indicated a complete lack of remorse.' Braniff praised the bravery of the victims, noting that their cooperation was essential in securing the conviction.

Regarding the Lancashire incident, Detective Constable Jim Power of Lancashire Police described Aziz as 'a sexual predator who abused a child when he knew they were alone and vulnerable. It is my view that the attempted rape would have gone further had Aziz not been disturbed by the opening of the front door. The effect that his sickening actions have had on the victim cannot be underestimated.' Power highlighted the victim's courage in reporting the abuse after many years.

Claire Hilton, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, added: 'Mohammed Aziz has shown no remorse throughout the case and in pleading not guilty to the offences; he put his victims through the further ordeal of giving evidence against him at a trial. I would like to pay tribute to those victims; it is due to their immense strength and bravery in coming forward and testifying against him that we have been able to bring him to justice.' The case was investigated by North Cumbria CID and Lancashire Police, with prosecution handled by the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit.