Man jailed for grooming girl, 15, on social media

A man has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of grooming a child online.

Awais Sheikh, from Rotherham, drove to meet a schoolgirl in Telford - a trip that police said had the purpose of exploiting her sexually - after first contacting her on social media in October 2024.

The 28-year-old - who took his victim to McDonald's before driving to a secluded spot with condoms - was sentenced during a hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

According to the West Mercia force, the girl had initially ignored a friend request from Sheikh, but when she accepted it she immediately told him she was 15. Despite this, Sheikh continued to contact her, complimenting her appearance.

Officers said he had used Snapchat and Instagram to contact the girl, and that he had told her he was 25, when in fact he was two years older.

He travelled from his home in Yorkshire to Telford to pick her up from school, and took her to McDonald's and then to a location near landmark hill the Wrekin.

The girl was reported missing to police, and was found later by officers at the Wrekin, where condoms and cannabis were discovered in the glovebox of Sheikh's vehicle.

He was arrested and later charged with meeting a child following sexual grooming.

The defendant was given a 22-month sentence plus a further two months, to run consecutively, for activating an existing suspended sentence.

The judge also ordered that he be added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.

"Sheikh's actions were predatory, deliberate and deeply concerning," Det Con Jack Underwood said.

"He travelled across the country with the clear intention of exploiting a child. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did."

The officer paid tribute to the girl for her bravery during the investigation.

"Coming forward and reliving such a frightening experience takes immense strength, and her bravery has been vital in ensuring Sheikh has been brought to justice," he added.

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