Sabbir Patel

Sabbir Patel, a 59-year-old man from Preston, Lancashire, was identified as a paedophile who committed multiple sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl over a period of 12 months. The offences came to light following a public report to Lancashire Police on 21 September 2024, when a concerned member of the public spotted Patel in Ribbleton Park with the victim and another child, breaching a child abduction warning he had received in April 2024.

Patel was promptly arrested, charged, and remanded into custody. While awaiting trial in prison, the victim bravely detailed the abuses in a letter to authorities. The offences included an incident in Moor Park, Preston, where Patel incited the child to engage in sexual activity, and another occasion where he woke her up and attempted to involve her in sexual acts. He repeatedly professed love for her and commented on her having a 'sexy body'. These actions constituted multiple sexual assaults, highlighting Patel's dangerous sexual interest in female children.

Patel, residing at Ripon Terrace in Preston, appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier in 2025, where he pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault and one count of engaging in sexual activity with a child. He returned to the same court in August 2025 for sentencing and was imprisoned for six years. Additionally, he was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The impact on the victim was profound, as outlined in an impact statement from her mother: 'My daughter’s confidence has depleted massively. This has caused her to struggle keeping and forming relationships with friends and with family. My daughter struggles to trust people and she puts barriers up when she is around her family and friends. My daughter does not like any physical touch, she will push away when myself or her family come near her. I feel this is a result of the abuse she suffered from Patel.' DC Ella Burrow of the Preston Child Exploitation Team described Patel as 'a dangerous individual with a sordid sexual interest in female children', emphasising the ongoing harm to the victim and praising her courage in reporting the crimes and supporting the judicial process. The case was handled by Lancashire Police, underscoring their commitment to addressing child sexual exploitation.