A Bradford teaching assistant has been jailed after admitting sexual activity with a teenage girl who was in his care.
Aasim Qureshi, 37, of High Park Crescent, Bradford, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 15 or 16.
The offences happened while the girl was under his care and Qureshi was in a position of responsibility towards her.
He was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, October 2.
‘He Was Supposed To Help Me Learn’
In a statement read to the court, the victim described the impact Qureshi’s actions had on her.
She said: “Qureshi was supposed to help me learn but he abused me.
“I was in care and he took advantage of me.”
She said the experience had left her blaming herself and feeling betrayed.
Victim Says Court Delays Caused Further Distress
The victim also spoke about the effect of the length of the proceedings.
She said: “I want him to know how much the events of the past few years have impacted me.
“He knew what he was doing, he was the adult in the situation.”
She added that delays in the court process had left her feeling in “complete despair”.
“I want to move on, but I am struggling,” she said.
Police Describe ‘Serious Breach Of Trust’
Detective Inspector Majahid Ashruff, of Bradford’s Child Vulnerability Exploitation Team, said Qureshi had exploited a position of responsibility.
“This was a serious breach of trust by an individual who was in a position of responsibility towards a vulnerable child,” he said.
“Qureshi exploited his role to groom and sexually abuse a young person who should have been safe within an educational setting.”
Officer Praises Victim’s Courage
DI Ashruff praised the victim for coming forward and supporting the investigation.
“I would like to commend the bravery and courage it took for her to come forward and report these crimes,” he said.
“It has been a long process for her.”
He said her account had been instrumental in bringing Qureshi to justice and expressed hope that the sentence would allow her to begin rebuilding her life.
Victims of sexual offences are legally entitled to lifelong anonymity and cannot be identified.
