Jobless Telford chef freed despite sex case jail sentence

But delays in the case against 35-year-old Mahroof Khan resulted in him being allowed to walk free from Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Sentence was imposed after Khan, of Caradoc Flats, Kingshaye Road, Wellington, admitted a charge of sexual activity with a child. Judge Michael Challinor was told that Khan had spent more than 900 days on a monitored tag while on bail – equal to receiving a three-year jail term.

Passing sentence Judge Challinor told Khan he would remain on licence, be on the Sex Offenders' Register and was disqualified from working with children indefinitely.

The judge ordered two other charges of sexual activity with a child and two of paying for sexual services of a child against Khan should lie on file.

Miss Debbie Gould, prosecuting, said the offence happened sometime in 2008 when the girl was 15. She said at the time the victim had been avoiding school and spent time at Khan's flat drinking and smoking cannabis.

Miss Gould said the girl had been engaged in sexual activity with other men Khan knew and he was aware of her age at the time of the offence.

Khan, who is married, had only been in the country for a short time.

Mr Paul Williams, for Khan, said his client had previously been a man of good character and had been subject to being on tag for an 'extraordinary length of time' after his arrest in 2009.

Mr Williams said his client may also face deportation proceedings.