Adnan Khan made sexual comments and tried to lure girls into car as they returned to school after Covid lockdown
A driver who targeted 10 teenage girls in a half-hour harassment campaign as they walked to school has been jailed for 15 months.
Adnan Khan, 35, approached the schoolgirls on their first day back to classes following a Covid lockdown in March 2021, making sexual comments and repeatedly asking them to get into his car.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Khan drove around Newcastle for 30 minutes, systematically targeting girls aged between 13 and 18 as they made their way to school in uniform.
Attempted Kidnap Charges Dropped
Khan had originally been charged with attempting to kidnap the schoolgirls with intent to commit sexual offences, but these charges were dropped after he pleaded guilty to harassment and two charges of sexual communication with a child.
The court heard how all 10 girls were left frightened by Khan’s behaviour, with several now saying they believe men who target schoolgirls “should be in prison.
Khan, of Bridge Street, Appleby, Cumbria, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and made subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for the next 20 years.
30-Minute Harassment Campaign
Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court: “The offences themselves date back to March 2021 and occurred over the course of half an hour that morning as the defendant targeted female pupils making their way to school in Newcastle.
The first victim was an 18-year-old pupil on her first day back after Covid-related school closures. She had decided to walk to school rather than catch her usual bus when Khan pulled alongside her in his car.
Mr Bunch said: “As she waited to cross a road, the defendant stopped his car alongside her and repeatedly asked her for her name. She responded by pointing out that she was still in school.”
‘Get in the Car’ Demands
The court heard how Khan became increasingly aggressive as he continued his spree. In one incident, he pulled alongside three girls aged 13, 15 and 16 and repeatedly shouted at them to “get in the car” in an aggressive manner.
“When they ignored him and hurried towards school, the defendant drove off. All three girls contacted a parent immediately after the defendant left. All three were left feeling scared and uncomfortable by the defendant’s behaviour,” Mr Bunch told the court.
In another incident, Khan approached two 16-year-old girls, with one initially thinking he needed directions. However, when she moved towards the car, Khan asked her “how long she had had braces.”
Sexual Comments to Children
The most disturbing incident involved two girls aged 14 and 13 who were walking to school with some male pupils. Khan pulled alongside them and called them “gorgeous” and “beautiful.”
Mr Bunch said: “At one point, one of the girls noticed him leaning out of his window, as though trying to reach out to them.”
When one of the boys approached and asked Khan to leave, the defendant responded by saying he was going to “s**g” the mothers of all the boys.
He turned his attentions back to the two girls, initially referring to them in similar terms to his initial approach, before changing tack and saying that he was going to ‘s**g’ them and make the two girls perform a sex act on the boys,” the prosecutor added.
Police Alerted Within Hours
The systematic nature of Khan’s offending meant multiple reports reached police within hours. Parents were contacted immediately by distressed pupils, and in the final incident, one girl managed to record video footage of Khan.
The registration plate of Khan’s car was passed to police, who noted the vehicle was linked to an address in Cumbria. Khan was arrested the same day.
When interviewed, Khan claimed he had only spoken to girls because they had thrown a drink over his car. He denied inviting any of them into his vehicle or making sexual comments, suggesting the complaints were “racially motivated.”
Lasting Impact on Victims
Several victims provided impact statements describing the lasting effect of Khan’s actions. One girl, now an adult, said she was “no longer felt safe or comfortable while visiting the area.”
“I was worried to think what might have happened if anyone had got in the car. I believe men who target schoolgirls are dangerous and should be in prison,” she told the court.
Another victim said: “When the incident occurred I felt absolutely terrified. I was 14 and wearing a school uniform and it must have been obvious we were two girls walking to school.”
She added: “The fact he was calling me gorgeous and beautiful and would not go away made me afraid he wanted to get sexual enjoyment out of kids. After the incident I no longer wanted to walk to school.”
‘No Business Being Here’
Recorder Mark Giuliani said Khan didn’t live in the North East and “had no business being here” during what was a Covid lockdown.
He noted Khan had taken “a circuitous route” to come across the children, who were heading to school for the first time after lockdown restrictions were lifted.
“You went out of your way to target children who were on their way to school,” the judge told Khan.
Extensive Criminal Record
The court heard Khan has 30 previous convictions, including for supplying drugs in 2010, fraud in 2016, and drink driving and threatening behaviour in 2020.
Sue Hirst, defending, said it had taken four-and-a-half years for authorities to charge Khan, causing him stress. She claimed the case had been “significantly over-charged.
“These offences were never attempted kidnap. The height of it was he was inviting them to get in his car. He never got out of the car, he never touched them,” Miss Hirst said.
She added: “It was a man behaving foolishly and inappropriately in a public place with lots of people around. He struggles to explain his behaviour. He knows he should not have made the comments to the girls.”
Now Married with Baby
Miss Hirst told the court Khan had since married and now has a baby. She said he wanted to convey his apologies to the court and the girls.
“They were stupid and inappropriate but absolutely nothing was going to come of the comments and no one was at risk. He was making ill-advised compliments, if that’s what they can be called, and asking if they wanted to go in his car,” she said.
However, Recorder Giuliani rejected this characterisation, imposing the 15-month sentence and extended monitoring requirements to protect future potential victims.
The case highlights concerns about predatory behaviour targeting schoolchildren and the lasting psychological impact such incidents can have on young victims.
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