'Sordid' man who abused teenage girl jailed

Sabbir Patel was described as a "dangerous" individual by police

A "sordid" sex offender who subjected a 14-year-old girl to multiple sexual assaults over the course of of 12 months has been jailed.

Sabbir Patel, 59, from Preston, has left his victim with a fear of being touched even by her own mum and unable to trust anyone, Preston Crown Court was told.

Patel, of Ripon Terrace, who admitted six sexual assaults and one offence of engaging in sexual activity with a child, was jailed for six years and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Det Con Ella Burrow, of Lancashire Police, said: "Patel is a dangerous individual with a sordid sexual interest in female children."

The force said his crimes came to light on 21 September 2024 when police were contacted by a "concerned member of the public".

They reported seeing Patel in a park in Preston with the 14-year-old victim and another child.

It emerged he was breaching a child abduction warning he was given the previous April so he was arrested, charged and remanded into custody, a police spokesman said.

The victim wrote a letter which detailed the sexual offences Patel had committed against her whilst he was in prison awaiting trial.

This included an incident an another park in Preston where he incited the child to engage in sexual activity and a separate occasion where he woke her up and attempted to engage in sexual activity.

Daughter's struggle

In an impact statement the victim's mother said her daughter's confidence has "depleted massively".

She said this had caused her to "struggle keeping and forming relationships with friends and with family".

The mother said: "My daughter struggles to trust people and she puts barriers up when she is around her family and friends.

"My daughter does not like any physical touch, she will push away when myself or her family come near her.

"I feel this is a result of the abuse she suffered from Patel."