Umar Iqbal jailed for sexually assaulting 16-year-old girl

Umar Iqbal

Umar Iqbal, who followed and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in Rochdale, has been sentenced to three years in prison, ordered to sign the sex offender register for life, and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Iqbal (24/06/91), of Ipswich Street, Rochdale, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street on Thursday (4 May), having pleaded guilty to sexual assault at an earlier hearing. 

At 3.30pm on Friday 5 March 2017, a 16-year-old girl was walking along Yorkshire Stree when Iqbal approached her. He tried to engage her in conversation but she felt uneasy and walked away. Iqbal followed her onto Princess Street and told her that he liked her and asked if she had a boyfriend.

He took hold of the victim's hand and she told him to get off but he didn’t. He pulled her towards a garaged area and tried to kiss her. She said no and pulled away, and Iqbal sexually assaulted her.

Detective Constable Ben Harris of Rochdale’s Sunrise Child Sexual Exploitation Team said: “Iqbal is a sexual predator who followed a 16-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her.

“I want to commend the girl for coming forward and supporting our investigation. Help and support will always be there for people who want to come forward and report sexual offences or speak to someone about concerns they may have.

“Thankfully Iqbal is now behind bars where he can’t target any more women.”

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

- If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515, whether or not you want make a police report.

- St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them via Greater Manchester Police, or as a self-referral.

- Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.

- Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. Contact 07919 246 267.