Paedophile, 28, groomed girl over Snapchat and Instagram before meeting her at school | UK | News

A man grooming a girl via Snapchat and instagram He was jailed before he walked out of his school. Awais Sheikh, 28, of East Bawtry Road, Rotherham, traveled from Sheffield to Shropshire to meet the teenager after contacting him online.

He was sentenced on: Shrewsbury Crown Court He was arrested on Monday, April 13, after being found guilty of meeting a child following sexual assault. Detective Constable Jack Underwood said: “Sheikh’s actions were predatory, deliberate and extremely worrying. He traveled across the country with the clear intention of exploiting a child. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did.”

The court heard how Sheikh first contacted the girl via social media in October 2024. West Mercia Police said the girl initially ignored the friend request but eventually relented.

The Sheikh lied about his age, saying he was 25 when he was 27 at the time. When the girl told him that she was 15 years old, he continued to harass and flatter her.

Shortly after the Sheikh contacted her online, he traveled from Sheffield to Telford, where he met the girl outside school.

He took her to a McDonald’s before heading to a secluded spot near The Wrekin, a hill in Shropshire. When the officers got into Sheikh’s car after the girl was reported missing, they found condoms and marijuana in the glove box.

Paedo was arrested and sentenced to 22 months in prison for allegedly meeting a child after sexually assaulting her.

According to West Mercia Police, he was given a further two months to stand consecutively due to the activation of his existing suspended sentence. The judge also decided that his name would be added to the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

After handing down the sentence, Detective Cons Underwood praised the girl and said: “[Her] The courage in both the investigation and the court process was remarkable.

“It takes tremendous strength to come forward and relive such a frightening experience, and her courage has been vital in bringing the Sheikh to justice.”

He said the force was committed to protecting children from harm, identifying those who pose risks and working tirelessly to ensure offenders like Sheikh face the consequences of their actions.

The officer added: “This case shows that we will act quickly and firmly when a child is endangered.”