Teaching assistant jailed for abusing girl in care

A teaching assistant has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a teenage girl he was supposed to be supporting in a West Yorkshire care home.

Aasim Qureshi, 37, from Bradford, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child aged 15 or 16. He was also barred from working with children or vulnerable adults for 10 years.

Police said the offences took place in 2021 while he was working with the girl at the home in the Bradford area.

In a statement read out in court on Friday, the victim said Qureshi "was supposed to help me learn but he abused me".

Bradford Crown Court heard the abuse had a lasting impact on the girl, who said she continued to struggle with what had happened.

In her statement she said: "I was in care and he took advantage of me.

"I feel like everything was my fault. I felt betrayed.

"He knew what he was doing. He was the adult in the situation."

She also said delays to the court proceedings had left her feeling "in complete despair" and that she wanted to move on with her life.

Det Insp Majahid Ashruff described the case as a "serious breach of trust".

He said: "Qureshi exploited his role to groom and sexually abuse a young person who should have been safe within an educational setting.

"I would like to commend the bravery and courage it took for her to come forward and report these crimes."

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