Rapist Plied Teen Schoolgirl With Booze In Hotel Room

A sexual predator, who plied a 16 year-old girl was booze in a hotel room and raped her, is starting a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.

Arif Khan, 27, was convicted at the Old Bailey of raping the schoolgirl at the hotel in Edmonton, north London on February 20, last year.

Three days after the rape it was reported to the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) Team.

Six days later Khan attended Edmonton police station to hand himself in.

He admitted he had had sex with the victim, but claimed it had been consensual.

Detective Inspector Laura Hillier of CASO said: "My officers thoroughly investigated this allegation and DC Lisa Briggs supported the young victim through a trial.

“This is a clear example of a common feature of child sexual exploitation (CSE) where a child is taken to a hotel and offences take place.

“In many cases such as this one, the young person does not recognise the dangers or see themselves as a victim. It is for this reason that CSE remains underreported.

"Police and partners, but also the wider community, need to be alert to the warning signs.

“CSE is a hidden crime and we all have a responsibility to keep our children and young people safe from harm.

“Operation Makesafe is a Met initiative which encourages the local business sector, taxi, hotels and fast food retailers to be aware of the warning signs of CSE and thus assist us in the prevention, detection and safeguarding of those at risk."