Predatory paedophile abducted 14-year-old Leeds girl

Javed Iqbal, 48, was handed an eight year sentence after a court heard how a manhunt was sparked after the victim’s mother reported her missing.

Iqbal drove the girl from Leeds to farmland near Grimsby where he was arrested by officers from Humberside Police.

Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how Iqbal first met the girl in August and began grooming her by buying alcohol for her and her friends.

In January this year police officers stopped Iqbal in his BMW in a car park at Roundhay Park while he was with the girl.

He was arrested, interviewed and informed by officers that the girl was only 14 years old.

Iqbal, of Addingham Gardens, Armley, was then released on police bail with a condition not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Iqbal arranged to meet the victim outside Armley Library on May 24 and drove her to the farm at Grimsby.

She was reported missing later that day by her mother.

Police went to Iqbal’s home but he was not there. They had information that he had connections to a farmhouse in Humberside.

Police went to the farmhouse and the owner told officers that Iqbal was in a caravan nearby.

Iqbal and the girl were still there when the officers went to investigate.

The girl later admitted that she had sex with Iqbal despite his attempts to deny that any sexual contact took place.

Iqbal pleaded guilty to abducting a child and two offences of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard he has no previous convictions but received a police warning in 2010 over his behaviour towards another underage girl.

A probation officer who assessed Iqbal after his arrest described him as “extremely manipulative”. A report stated that Iqbal blamed the girl for the offences.

Steven Wood, mitigating, said Iqbal accepted that he would be facing a lengthy prison sentence.

He said Iqbal lived a solitary existence and had no family.

Iqbal was given an extended prison sentence totalling eight years. He must serve a minimum of two thirds of a four-year custodial term followed by four years on licence.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, said: “You are an adult and the legislation is designed to protect children from predatory paedophiles like you.

“It must be made clear to you and anyone else who thinks that it is legitimate to have sexual relations with a child, that the courts will pass sentences which reflect the need to deter that sort of behaviour.”

“You are a manipulative man - a man who blames the child. You pose a high risk of causing harm to children.”

After the case, Detective Inspector David Roberts, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Iqbal set out to groom and sexually exploit a vulnerable young girl knowing that she was only fourteen years old.

“He clearly represents a danger to children and we hope his conviction for these offences will provide some reassurance to the victim, her family and to the wider community.

“The sexual exploitation and abuse of children and young people is a despicable and insidious crime and we remain committed to working alongside our partner agencies to identify those at risk and to bring those responsible to justice.

“We hope successful convictions such as this will help to give other victims the confidence to come forward.”