Ayoob Lakhani, then aged 53, of Carlton Grove, Southwark, London, was sentenced to an extended sentence of 12 years at Bristol Crown Court after being convicted of grooming and sexually abusing a young boy.
The conviction concluded an investigation that established Lakhani had deployed calculated methods to gain the child’s compliance and facilitate contact.
The court heard that Lakhani initially met the victim online and subsequently dedicated significant time and substantial financial resources to groom him.
Lakhani transferred funds to the victim to cover the costs of school books and lunches before proceeding to carry out the sexual offences.
During the criminal proceedings, Lakhani claimed that he had operated under the belief that the victim was over the age of 16.
However, evidence presented to the court proved that the boy had explicitly informed Lakhani of the specific school he attended.
Lakhani stood trial at Bristol Crown Court in June, where a jury returned guilty verdicts on five charges:
- Four counts of sexual activity with a child
- One count of meeting a child following grooming
At the sentencing hearing on Friday, 4 September, the presiding judge classified Lakhani as a dangerous offender and handed down an extended determinate sentence.
The sentence comprises a nine-year custodial term coupled with an extended licence period of three years, resulting in a total sentence length of 12 years.
The judge also imposed a 15-year restraining order to prevent any direct or indirect contact with the victim and ordered Lakhani to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing extended determinate sentences for sexual offenders, Lakhani is not entitled to automatic early release. He is required to serve at least two-thirds (six years / 72 months) of his nine-year custodial term in prison custody before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board. Release is granted only if the Board determines he no longer poses a danger to the public. If released, Lakhani will remain subject to licence conditions for the unserved balance of the nine years, plus the entirety of the three-year extended licence, concluding when the full 12-year period expires.
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