A Blackburn man today begins a nine year sentence after being found guilty of sexual assault and theft of a mobile phone.
Six of these years are custodial with a further three on license. He is now on the sex offenders register for life and has been classified as a dangerous offender of significant risk.
The court heard how Tashkin Ali aged 28 of Whalley New Road,subjected the victim to a targeted attack following a night out in Bolton town centre on Saturday 29 February 2020.
The teenager, now 22-years-old, had been enjoying a night out at a club with a friend.
This night out was her first time in a club, after turning 18 the month prior. Midway through the night, she made her way into the club’s smoking area, where she started to feel unwell and was sick. Her friend recognised she needed assistance and went to go grab her a glass of water.
A man, who we now know is Ali, approached the victim telling her he would go and call her a taxi. Instead, he dragged her outside the venue to a dark car park close by.
The manager at another venue was stood outside there having a cigarette when she noticed a young woman appeared to be extremely drowsy and that a man with her seemed to be dragging her everywhere with him. It immediately rang alarm bells and one of her members of staff went out to intervene.
When confronted, the man, now known to be Ali, became agitated and aggressive, but asked the manager to make sure the victim got a taxi home and he walked away, not before insisting that she was his girlfriend.
It was at this point that the victim realised her Huawei mobile phone had been stolen.
Ali was subsequently identified by the various witnesses in the case and was brought into custody. The missing mobile phone was recovered in his residence.
DS Helen Hitchen of Bolton CID said: “We commend the strength and bravery of the victim in this case. With her testimony, we have been able to put a very dangerous man behind bars.
“The actions of the staff members of a neighbouring bar, getting the victim to safety despite Ali’s persistence that they were in a relationship, is also commendable. It’s clear they recognised Ali’s lies and that something wasn’t quite right about the situation. The judge highlighted that they were a credit to themselves and commended their brave actions.
“Women should be able to go on a night out freely, without fear that something may happen to them.
