A girl, 11, who’s brave testimony sent a Croydon paedophile to jail has issued a heartbreaking and powerful statement. Zafar Hussain, 43, of Bramble Close, was jailed for 19 years on Friday, July 18 at Harrow Crown Court.
Hussain bombarded the victim with sexual images and videos after asking for social media account details. He managed to persuade her to resume contact after she blocked him, ultimately picking her up from school in a few months later and sexually assaulting her. He later raped her twice in early 2023.
Over the course of a year, Hussain continued to meet the victim and ply her with gifts like Apple Airpods, jewellery, makeup and money, while he continued to rape and abuse her. Messages between the victim and Hussain were found by her months which were “romantic” in nature – leading the victim to say she had been abused. This was then reported to police in February 2023.
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.
She added: “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.”
Hussain was arrested two days later when he admitted to police he was “in love” with the young girl. He was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court 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 attempted rape of a child under 13 on Wednesday, April 16.
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He will serve 19 years in jail, with an additional year to be served on licence, as well as being placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Hussain will also be made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order.
Police used the victim’s mobile phone cell site information, automatic number plate recognition and Hussain’s social media accounts and forensic DNA to pinpoint him as the perpetrator.
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.
“I hope this case highlights that the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and that we will thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual assault, no matter the circumstance.”
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