Man Who Posed as Teen on Snapchat to Abuse 13-Year-Old Sentenced

A 24-year-old man has been handed a prison

A 24-year-old man has been handed a prison sentence for grooming and raping a 13-year-old girl he met on Snapchat, where he lied about his age to appear as a teenager.

Abdul Khan, from the West Midlands, initiated contact with the victim on the social media platform in early 2023, claiming to be 14 years old. Over several weeks, he manipulated the child into meeting him in person, despite her being unaware of his true identity and age.

The pair met at a nature reserve in a quiet suburban area, where Khan carried out the assault. The victim later disclosed the abuse to a family member, prompting an immediate police investigation.

Detectives traced the messages and identified Khan throu…

Detectives traced the messages and identified Khan through digital evidence, leading to his arrest. He initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to rape and two counts of sexual activity with a child at a previous court hearing.

At sentencing, the judge described Khan’s actions as a calculated abuse of trust, noting the significant psychological impact on the victim and her family. Khan was jailed for eight years, with an additional year on extended licence, and will be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

In a statement, the investigating officer praised the girl’s courage in coming forward and urged other victims of similar crimes to seek support, emphasising that offenders will face justice regardless of the platforms used to target children.