A schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted on her way home has lost friendships within her community after coming forward to report the attack by a pensioner who claimed he was encouraging her to cover her head.
The 12-year-old victim told Reading Crown Court she felt overwhelmed and anxious following the incident in Slough, Berkshire, where Chaudhry Zaman forcibly held her hand before kissing her on the lips.
In a victim personal statement, the girl described how the assault had disrupted her life and family routine. Her father now collects her from school to ensure her safety, whilst she continues to experience anxiety about the incident.
The victim stated: “After this happened to me, I found it really overwhelming. I felt like throwing up because I felt so anxious about going to school again. I did not feel like I could talk to anyone about what had happened because I did not think they would understand.”
She revealed that in the weeks following the attack, she lost friendships. The court heard these friendship breakdowns occurred after she spoke up about what had happened to her.
Zaman, 70, who required a Punjabi interpreter during proceedings, was convicted by a jury on 24 October last year of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. He had denied the charge throughout the trial.
CCTV footage captured Zaman holding the child’s hand before sitting with her on a bench where the assault occurred. Prosecutor Ian Wright stated the defendant asked the child to be friends with him, asked if she loved him and instructed her to keep their interaction secret.
During the trial, Zaman maintained he had been speaking to the girl about covering her head and demonstrating how she could do so. Judge Amjad Nawaz referenced this claim whilst describing the incident, noting the defendant’s explanation contradicted the victim’s account and CCTV evidence.
The judge decided not to impose immediate custody, citing Zaman’s age of 70 and lack of previous convictions. A pre-sentence report recommended a community order, concluding his risk could be managed without imprisonment.
Defence lawyer Paul Douglass described the recommendation as “a just and proportionate sentence given the defendant’s age, his lack of previous convictions and the nature of the offence, albeit it was very alarming and distressing for the young girl involved.”
The prosecutor clarified that Zaman, who lives in Berkshire, was in the UK lawfully after Judge Nawaz raised questions about his immigration status following the trial.
Judge Nawaz told Zaman: “The victim has lost her self-esteem, lost her confidence and lost her friends and that is all down to your actions, because she had to speak up about what had happened to her. That has caused a breakup of friendships which she regrets.”
Zaman received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, requiring him to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work. A five-year restraining order prohibits him from entering within 200 metres of the girl’s school. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
Mr Douglass conveyed to the court that whilst the pre-sentence report noted Zaman did not accept guilt, his response was that “he is very sorry for what happened and it will never happen again.”
