Blackburn sex offender avoids prison 'due to overcrowding'

Imran Zaman, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, was handed a sentence of 20 months, suspended for two years, for sexually assaulting the teenager while he slept.

The court heard how Zaman, 42, had befriended the victim when he was a child, and regularly invited him to his home to drink and smoke cannabis.

Preston Crown Court heard how Zaman visited the victim, who was aged 19 at the time, on August 13, 2022, taking a bag of ketamine with him.

The teenager, described by prosecutor David Lees as "particularly vulnerable", fell asleep, and woke later to find Zaman sexually assaulting him.

Zaman pleaded guilty to the offence, with mitigation given on his behalf explaining how his marriage had broken down and he had lost his job in the wake of his offending, which has had an impact on his mental health.

His barrister added: “It is trite, but the prisons are bursting. Locking him up will not assist him but punish him.

“He is in his 40s and is turning his life around. He went through a rough patch, and this is probably to do with that.

“He is embarrassed by what he did, and he now stands in front of the court before this.

"His risk to the community is less, he has had a salutary lesson having to face up to his behaviour.”

Passing sentence Judge David Temkin KC said: “There is enormous pressure on the prison service, and there is an element of delay in any event.

“Your marriage has broken down and your wider family is thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour, and you should be as well. You didn’t see any problem in the relationship with the victim.

“I am obliged to consider the imposition guidelines, which may point me towards or away from suspending the sentence, including the fact appropriate punishment can be achieved by another means.”

Zaman received a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was also ordered to complete 80 hours of community service in the next 12 months, and was made subject to a restraining order.