Omar Khan, a former shop employee from Greenock, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and transmitting obscene communications to her and three more minors.
Omar Khan was convicted of six offences after a jury trial at Greenock Sheriff Court last month.
The 28-year-old transmitted sexual written communications to the minor from November 2021 to May 2022, while also coercing her into engaging in sexual activities in return for vape items.
Omar Khan sexually molested the girl once at this time at Lights and Gifts, his former workplace, located on Jamaica Street in Greenock.
Jurors were informed that he forcefully pressed her against a wall, kissed her neck and shoulders, inappropriately handled her, and attempted to lower both her trousers and his own.
Omar Khan was additionally convicted of selling vapes to her at the store, despite her being under 18 years of age.
During the trial, he maintained that the messages exchanged were ‘flirtatious banter’ and that he thought the girl was 16-years-old at the time.
In one message, he told her: “If you were older, I’d definitely be firing into you.”
The jury also found Khan guilty of causing two 12-year-old girls and another 13-year-old to view a sexual image by sending them photographs of himself between January 2022 and May 2022.
He returned to Greenock Sheriff Court for sentencing on Wednesday, following the preparation of a social work report.
Defence advocate Joseph Barr noted that the report identified a ‘robust’ community payback order as a possible alternative to custody.
Mr Barr also highlighted Omar Khan’s ‘limited record’ and the fact that he has never before served a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Anthony McGeehan said that due to the gravity of the offences, he was required to both punish Khan and protect the public.
He condemned him for ‘grooming’ the 13-year-old girl through Snapchat and Instagram before the situation escalated with the sexual assault.
Sheriff McGeehan told Omar Khan: “The harm that you caused your child victim could be seen when she was giving evidence.
“Her bravery is to be commended.
“A custodial sentence is the only appropriate sentence.”
Omar Khan, of Glasgow, was sentenced to a period of 30 months imprisonment for the charges of sexual assault, coercion and sending sexual written communications.
He was admonished in relation to his convictions for selling vapes to a person under the age of 18.
Omar Khan will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.