November 18, 2016 11.57 am This story is over 88 months old

Man sent taxi to take girl from Lincolnshire children’s home for sex in London hotel

A man who arranged for a 14-year-old girl to be taken from a South Lincolnshire children’s home to London for sex has been jailed for 12 years at Lincoln Crown Court. Billal Amin sent a taxi to Lincolnshire to collect the teenager and her 15-year-old friend and take her to a Travelodge in East London.…
Lincoln Crown Court. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter

A man who arranged for a 14-year-old girl to be taken from a South Lincolnshire children’s home to London for sex has been jailed for 12 years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Billal Amin sent a taxi to Lincolnshire to collect the teenager and her 15-year-old friend and take her to a Travelodge in East London.

Martin Hurst, prosecuting, said the two girls were plied with alcohol before the 14-year-old performed a sex act on Amin.

The 14-year-old then had sex with another man before Amin took a taxi with the girls telling them they were going to his home.

When they left the taxi Amin disappeared abandoning the girls in the street.

The court was told that the girls were left in London in the the middle of the night and had no idea where they were.

They sought help and police were contacted resulting in an investigation that led to the arrest of Amin.

The inquiry revealed that two months earlier Amin had met the girl in London when she had also performed a sex act on him.

Billal Amin, 33, of Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, north east London, denied a charge of trafficking for sexual exploitation in March 2013 and two charges of sexual activity with a child but was convicted by a jury on a 10-2 majority.

He was cleared of a further charge of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning from having contact with any child under 16.

Judge Simon Hirst, passing sentence, said: “This child was extremely vulnerable. You knew she was 14 because she told you.”

The judge said that after the incident at the Travelodge, Amin acted “disgracefully”.

Abandoning a 14-year-old girl in London in the middle of the night beggars belief.

In evidence Amin denied the offences. He told the jury that his life had been ruined and he wished he had never gone anywhere near the girl.

Paul Hodgkinson, defending, said that Amin was a hard-working man of previously impeccable good character.

He told the court that Amin helps care for his mother and he is due to become a father in two months.

Two other men were cleared of all charges.

Taxi driver Sheraz Hussain, 33, of Orchid Close, Newham, London, and Jonpal Sambi, 28, of Gorse Close, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, each denied two charges of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Sambi also denied sexual activity with a child.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Amin exploited two vulnerable girls to satisfy his sexual desires and then abandoned them without a thought for their safety.

“This disturbing case is an example of the lengths that predators like Amin will go to in targeting their young victims.

“Child sexual exploitation is a pernicious crime that ruins lives. It is crucial that anyone concerned about a child speaks out as it could save them from harm. They can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected].”