Man jailed for sexually abusing girl

A man who sexually abused a girl has been jailed for three years.

Fazul-Ur Rehman, 44, told the child she was “a good girl” as he touched her to try and stop her from telling anyone.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Rehman, of Spencer Road, Seven Kings, sexually assaulted the youngster, leaving her confused and terrified.

She eventually told her parents what had happened.

Rehman denied three counts of sexual activity with a child, but was convicted after a four-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

His victim was forced to come to court and gave evidence from behind a screen.

Jailing Rehman for three years, Judge Martyn Zeidman said: “In advance of the trial you heard her pre-recorded interview, you knew what she was saying was the truth.

“But instead of pleading guilty you decided to bluff it out – it was your right to do so, but it knocks out what would have been useful mitigation.

“It would have avoided her having to come to court to be cross-examined.

“Inevitably the process causes suffering and you had the power to prevent that but chose not to do so.”

Rehman was also banned indefinitely from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16 by a sexual harm prevention order.

To the victim and her family, Judge Zeidman said: “Before parting from this case I would like to pay tribute to the complainant for her bravery in pursuing the case.

“She was an impeccable witness of truth and I would like her to know that she commands the respect of all who heard her in court.”