In 2022, Vahid Ghaedi, the Bradford Paedophile, a takeaway employee, was cautioned by a homeless individual that the girl for whom he was purchasing meals was a minor, before his sexual assault and face-licking of her.
Vahid Ghaedi, then 34, encountered the adolescent female while traversing City Park, Bradford, shortly before midnight in August 2019. The girl, residing with foster carers, then departed their residence, and Vahid Ghaedi initiated a conversation with her.
Bradford Crown Court was informed that he proposed to purchase lunch for her, which she accepted, and subsequently accompanied him. Judge Ahmed Nadim told the court that Vahid Ghaedi consistently distributed leftover food from the takeout where he was employed to homeless individuals on his return home.
The judge stated that Vahid Ghaedi, residing at Sawrey Place, “initiated a dialogue” and recognised “from the beginning that he was interacting with a homeless and vulnerable individual.” The court was informed that while the duo proceeded to a takeaway restaurant, they encountered a homeless guy who became “abusive” towards Vahid Ghaedi and was “critical” of his motives.
Judge Nadim informed Vahid Ghaedi: “He explicitly conveyed that you were interacting with a minor and were significantly older than her.” He stated that the girl informed Vahid Ghaedi of her age, 14, before purchasing her meals and arranging a taxi to his residence – effectively, the judge remarked, “across the road.”
He stated: “The man persisted in questioning your motives, and to avert a confrontation, you summoned a taxi and convinced the young woman to accompany you.” Upon arriving at his residence, Vahid Ghaedi enquired about the girl’s relationship status, expressed his interest in finding a partner akin to her, and subsequently proceeded to sexually abuse her by caressing her thigh, kissing her, and licking her face.
The court stated that there “came a stage” when Vahid Ghaedi sought to have the girl partake in more intimate and sexual activities for financial compensation, and he endeavoured to schedule another meeting with her before escorting her back to the park where they initially encountered each other.
Vahid Ghaedi was ultimately charged with three charges of sexual assault and was convicted on two counts at the trial earlier this year. The jury could not arrive at a verdict on one count of sexual assault, and the prosecution chose not to pursue a retrial. Prosecutor Ian Howard informed the court that Vahid Ghaedi has only two prior convictions for shoplifting, both of which were recorded in 2018. He stated that aggravating factors in the case on Tuesday included the “targeting of an especially vulnerable victim.”
Mitigating, Rebecca Young stated that during the trial, the jury was informed of Vahid Ghaedi’s mental health challenges and isolation, since he has limited proficiency in English and has been “struggling.” She stated that the sexual assault offences occurred “within that context”. She characterised him as an individual who was “not engaged in a premeditated endeavour but rather someone who routinely traversed the park after completing his shift at a takeaway, often distributing leftover food to the homeless, a practice he had maintained for an extended period,” adding that “there was no indication he had previously targeted young girls.”
Following Ms. Young’s assertion in court that Vahid Ghaedi did not intend to sexually assault the girl upon discovering her age, Judge Nadim remarked: “A man is in the presence of a young child, is informed of her age, is told by a bystander that it is inappropriate and advised against proceeding, yet the defendant, in a brief span, does exactly what he was cautioned against.” That is my interpretation of the evidence.
Ms. Young stated, “While it may have been apparent to others that this was the situation, his mental health, which influences his perception of all circumstances—evidenced by his subsequent behaviour, as he accompanies her and walks her through the park to ensure her safety—suggests that he did not exhibit the characteristics of a predator who sought her out and simply released her.” He appeared to retain a misconception of the circumstances.
Vahid Ghaedi was sentenced to ten months in prison. Judge Nadim stated: “What is concerning about your behaviour is your inability to assess the situation correctly, which constitutes the threat you pose.” It is commendable, I think, that you refrained from escalating the situation beyond kissing her, licking her face, and massaging her thighs when you perceived her reluctance to connect with you and your objectives.
“Your decision to escort her back to the location where you discovered her may have included a consideration for her safety; however, from another perspective, you perceived your actions as courteous towards a young lady, anticipating a future meeting or hoping she would facilitate another encounter with a different companion.”
Vahid Ghaedi must complete fifty per cent of his sentence in detention before being granted release on license. He was also subjected to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandated to register on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a duration of ten years.
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