Zafar Hussain, of Bramble Close, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, with an additional year to be served on licence, today (July 18) after appearing at Harrow Crown Court.
He will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and has been made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order.
The now 43-year-old first approached the victim, who was 11 at the time, and asked her for her social media account to message her privately.
The court heard that he bombarded her with sexual images and videos.
Although she initially blocked him, he soon persuaded her to resume contact.
In January 2023, he picked her up from school and drove to a nearby to sexually assault her.
In March 2023, he raped her twice.
Over the course of a year, he would arrange to meet the victim after school and take her to a location in his car before raping or sexually assaulting her.
Hussain would also shower her with over-the-top gifts, such as Apple Air Pods, jewellery, make-up, and money.
In 2024, the victim’s mother discovered a series of messages on her daughters’ phone from Hussain which seemed romantic in nature.
Suspicious, she spoke to her daughter who then said that she had been abused.
It was reported to police on February 20, 2024, and two days later Hussain was arrested – as he told officers he was in love with the victim.
Detectives were able to use mobile phone cell site information to identify the days in which the victim and Hussain’s phone were in the same vicinity and at the same time.
DNA from the victim’s clothing was forensically examined and matched samples from Hussain.
Hussain was charged on February 22 with 12 offences.
He was found guilty on April 16 this year of six counts of raping a child aged under 13, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of the attempted rape of a child under 13.
‘He convinced me that it was okay’
In a statement the victim said: “I initially didn’t see what was happening to me as abuse because Zafar had convinced me that it was okay and that he loved me. But now I know that what was happening was wrong and he took advantage of me. He made me feel more like an adult instead of a child. He said bad things about my parents to turn me against them so that I only had him. I trusted him and the things he said to me.
“Before this happened to me, I used to get really good grades at school, especially in my core subjects which are the most important. However, since what happened to me my grades have dropped quite a lot. I just find it so much harder to focus during my lessons.
“I am very different at school now, so much quieter than I used to be. Sometimes at night I find it hard to sleep and I end up thinking about it, that can make me upset. My friends don’t know about what happened to me and I can’t talk to them about it. Only my mum and dad know what happened to me, the rest of my family don’t know, and I wouldn’t want them to find out in case they judge me.
“I was really scared when I first told the police about what happened to me. Things have been hard between my mum and dad since this happened, its affected not only me but my family too. I hope that we can all forget about what happened one day.”
Detective Inspector Tom Palmer, from the North West Area’s Public Protection team, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting Hussain to us. Her evidence was critical in bringing Hussain to justice for his heinous crimes.
“I would also like to commend the investigation team who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victim. Sexual assault and rape cases are never simple to investigate and this case was particularly complex. This did not deter the detectives who worked tirelessly, and where determined to see Hussain get his day in court.”
