Man found not guilty in under-age sex trial

A MAN accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child was found not guilty at Chichester Crown Court last Wednesday.
Shakeel Sharif was acquitted of charges at Chichester Crown CourtShakeel Sharif was acquitted of charges at Chichester Crown Court
Shakeel Sharif was acquitted of charges at Chichester Crown Court

Both Mr Colin Campbell, defending, and Ms Katherine Hurst, prosecuting, agreed that Shakeel Sharif, 29, had sexual intercourse with a 14 year-old girl from a Worthing care home on Sunday, January 27, of this year, but disagreed on whether or not he thought she was 16 years of age.

The court heard the girl had a history of making false sexual allegations against various men, including her own grandfather. A statement from one of the girl’s care workers read: “I, and other male staff in the home found her behaviour to be quite uncomfortable because of her size and physique which she used to her advantage.”

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The court heard male care workers were told to leave doors open where possible when working with the girl.

She did not attend the trial to give evidence.

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, Thursday, September 12.

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