'I felt betrayed' - Teaching assistant jailed for sexual offence against girl in care home
A teaching assistant has been jailed after admitting to having sexual activity with a teenage girl he was supposed to be looking after in a Yorkshire care home.
Aasim Qureshi admitted three counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 15/16 at a care home in the Bradford area in 2021.
Quresi, 37, of High Park Crescent in Bradford, was jailed for 16 months at Bradford Crown Court on Friday (Oct 2).
In a personal victim statement which was read out in court, she said: “Qureshi was supposed to help me learn but he abused me. I was in care and he took advantage of me.
“I feel like everything was my fault, I felt betrayed.
“I want him to know how much the events of the past few years have impacted me. He knew what he was doing, he was the adult in the situation.
“I want him to know how much him delaying the court proceedings has left me feeling in complete despair.
“I want to move on, but I am struggling.”
Detective Inspector Majahid Ashruff of West Yorkshire Police, said: "This was a serious breach of trust by an individual who was in a position of responsibility towards a vulnerable child.
“Qureshi exploited his role to groom and sexually abuse a young person who should have been safe within an educational setting.
“I would like to commend the bravery and courage it took for her to come forward and report these crimes.
“It has been a long process for her. Her account was instrumental in bringing Qureshi to justice and I hope today’s sentence can bring her closure on the ordeal as she starts to rebuild her life.
“West Yorkshire Police remains committed to safeguarding children and pursuing those who seek to exploit them. We encourage anyone who has concerns about child sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation to report them to police.
“The Child Vulnerability Exploitation Team investigates offences involving child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation. Dedicated officers work alongside partner agencies to safeguard children and bring offenders to justice.”