Pharmacist jailed for abusing teenage girl

A pharmacy manager has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing an underage girl who had also been raped by another man.

Shahzad Hussain, 27, contacted the teenager on Snapchat before meeting up with her. He lied about his own age, claiming to be 21, and continued to groom the victim despite being warned about her age.

He was found guilty following a trial of six offences relating to sexual activity with a child in 2022.

He was handed an extended nine-year sentence at Bradford Crown Court earlier after Recorder Richard Paige deemed him at risk of posing serious harm to children.

Hussain, of Browsholme Street, Keighley, will serve an additional two years on licence after he is released from custody.

The judge referred to a victim impact statement from the girl's father which detailed the "devastating" impact on her and the family.

Last month Recorder Paige jailed Ahmer Hamid, 29, of Wellands Terrace, Bradford, for nine years after he had been found guilty of driving the same girl to a secluded location and raping her in a separate incident in 2022.

Defending Hussain, John Batchelor said his client was a man of previous good character who managed a pharmacy.

He said: "He's paid the ultimate price for what was effectively a weekend of terrible behaviour towards this young complainant."

He said Hussain had lost his job and would have to rebuild his life after his release.

The court heard that Hussain accepted the jury's verdicts and wished to apologise to the complainant and her family.

A 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed and Hussain must register as a sex offender for life.

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