A Moss Side man has been jailed for five years for raping a 14-year-old girl in 2009 following what police are calling a ‘below level’ investigation.
Arman Nejad, 23, of Caythorpe Street, Moss Side was found guilty of rape following a trial at Manchester Crown Court on Friday April 17.
In October 2009 Nejad lured the girl to his house under false pretences, separating her from her friends as they made their way to a nearby youth club.
After her friends had walked out of view Nejad dragged her into the house and raped her.
The matter was reported to police in February 2010 and investigated by the south Manchester division.
In June 2013, officers from GMP’s Protect team visited the girl on an unrelated matter and were made aware of the lack of progress following the initial complaint.
Superintendent Simon Retford, from GMP’s Professional Standards Branch, said: “There were unacceptable delays in bringing the case to court after the initial complaint was made.
“The victim received a service that I believe fell below the level which we strive to offer to victims of rape and other sexual abuse”
The matter was fully investigated by officers from the Protect team and Nejad was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted.
As soon as GMP’s Professional Standards Branch became aware of the delay in the case, it was referred to the IPCC who returned it back to the Force to investigate locally.
Detective Inspector Debbie Oakes, from GMP’s Phoenix Protect Team, said: “While the force absolutely accepts the failures in this case, we should also stress that the work of Protect and the Phoenix partnership over the last few years has made huge strides towards protecting vulnerable people who are at risk of child sexual exploitation.
“Together, we will continue to tackle CSE and continue to pursue people like Arman Nejad and expose them for the criminals they really are.”
