A former Metropolitan Police Special Constable has been sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after being convicted of two counts of sexual assault against a 14-year-old child.
Hassnain Shahzad, 27, of Ilford Lane, Ilford, appeared for sentence after a jury found him guilty following a contested trial.
The prosecution outlined that the offending occurred on the evening of Friday 25 August 2023. The victim, aged 14, was visiting London and waiting at the checkout tills inside a Tesco store on Bishopsgate alongside her mother. Shahzad walked past the child in the crowded shop, intentionally touching her on the bottom while carrying pineapple chunks he had selected to purchase.
When the victim and her mother exited the premises to return to their accommodation, Shahzad followed them outside. High-definition street surveillance footage recorded Shahzad deliberately closing the distance on an open pavement, making a direct line towards the child and touching her again from behind.
The victim alerted her mother, and the incident was reported to the City of London Police the following morning. Specialised detectives launched an inquiry, securing CCTV footage and working with financial investigators to trace the bank card used at the supermarket counter during the exact transaction window.
The financial footprint led officers directly to Shahzad. He was arrested at his home address on 27 September 2023, where officers seized clothing matching the garments worn by the offender on security recordings.
During forensic examination of Shahzad’s mobile phone, digital investigators discovered recordings captured just 48 hours after the assault, showing him covertly filming female pedestrians on public footpaths without their knowledge or permission.
Shahzad maintained not guilty pleas throughout legal proceedings, claiming through his defence counsel that any physical contact was accidental and akin to incidental contact on crowded public transport. The jury rejected his assertions, returning guilty verdicts on two counts of sexual assault.
The court heard a moving statement from the child’s mother outlining the profound psychological trauma inflicted upon the young victim, noting the enduring anxiety, loss of childhood innocence, and daily distress experienced by the family.
Passing sentence, the Crown Court judge sentenced Shahzad to six months’ imprisonment running concurrently for both offences, suspended for 18 months.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Shahzad was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community and was made subject to statutory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for a duration of seven years.
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