A Rochdale man who groomed and sexually assaulted three girls after lavishing them with money, gifts, cigarettes and alcohol has been jailed today.
Arshad Mohammed, 34, of Merefield Street, Rochdale, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was jailed today for four years eight months at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Mohammed became friends with two of the victims between May and November 2012, when they were 14 and 15 by befriending people of a similar age.
For several months, up until June 2013, he contacted them through texts and social media to meet him.
He bought the two girls gifts and gave them money, bought them cigarettes and alcohol before taking them to a flat in Rochdale where they were sexually assaulted.
Later that year in October, Mohammed contacted another 14-year-old girl who was friends with the first two victims and regularly met her.
The sexual predator followed the same pattern of lavishing gifts before sexually assaulting the vulnerable teen.
Mohammed was arrested and charged after the incidents were reported to police.
Detective Constable Laura Crossley said: “Mohammed used money and gifts to pull the wool over the girl’s eyes to gratify his own sexual needs.
“However, thanks to their bravery by coming forward, he was identified and brought to justice.”
Detective Constable Crossley said the investigation was carried out by the Sunrise team, a partnership between GMP and Rochdale Council, which aims to reduce the number of vulnerable children being sexually exploited and prosecuting offenders.
She added: “If anyone believes they may know someone who is being or abused or if you are a victim yourself, I would urge you to contact police as soon as possible.”
He was also charged with perverting the course of justice.
