Shazad Mughal

On the night of 10 August 2022, Shazad Mughal, a 47-year-old security guard from Tansley Road in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, committed a serious sexual assault against a woman who sought his assistance. The victim, whose tram had terminated earlier than expected, approached Mughal for directions to Manchester city centre. Mughal, working in his security booth, directed her and allowed her to use the toilet facilities within the booth.

Once inside, Mughal abused his position of authority by sexually assaulting the woman. He was later found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration. According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Mughal falsely claimed during the investigation that the victim had advanced on him and that he did not want any sexual activity, a statement described by detectives as completely untrue.

The victim managed to flee the scene and contacted police via a 999 call at 12:45am, reporting the assault while remaining hidden until officers located her. The incident was thoroughly investigated by GMP's Serious Crime Division, led by Detective Constable Luke Miller.

Detective Constable Luke Miller stated: "Mughal abused his position of authority to sexually assault a woman who had asked him for help. I commend the victim in this case for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in today’s sentence and sees justice served against Mughal, who will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars."

On Friday, 7 November 2024, at Manchester Crown Court, Mughal was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison following his conviction. This case underscores the vulnerability of individuals seeking simple assistance and the betrayal of trust by those in positions of authority, as reported by the Bury Times and GMP sources.