An Islamic tutor has been jailed for sexually abusing two girls during home study sessions at their Black Country home as West Midlands Police urges anyone else who’s suffered at his hands to break their silence and seek support. 

Faruque Ahmed was employed to teach the sisters - who were aged between eight and 12-years-old at the time - Arabic during two-hour lessons held every Saturday and Sunday at the family home in Warley. 

However, over a two-year period the 46-year-old routinely sexually assaulted the youngsters underneath the marble dining room table around which the classes were held between 2009 and 2011. The girls kept tight-lipped about the catalogue of abuse until one disclosed the offences to an NHS mental health nurse in September 2016. 

The following day a specially trained Public Protection Officer from West Midlands Police spoke to the younger girl, now aged 18, and uncovered the extent of Ahmed’s offending. 

She disclosed how Ahmed, an Imam living in Stoke, regularly touched her between the legs having pulled her trousers around her knees - and told how she would be struck with a bamboo cane if she resisted. She also confided how he would discreetly shuffle the girls’ chairs closer together to get within easy touching distance. 

Ahmed was arrested on 10 February 2017 and in police interview admitted tutoring the girls but denied ever assaulting them. However, West Midlands Police charged him with multiple counts of sexual touching a child and sexual assault of a child by penetration. 

He was jailed for 14 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court, having been found guilty on 10 of the 13 counts against him. He was also given a SHPO (sexual harm prevention order - preventing him with working with children for life) and will be on the sex offenders register for life. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sarah West from West Midlands Police’s Child Abuse Unit, said:

“Both victims want to raise awareness within their community and to urge anyone who’s suffered abuse to speak out. They know first-hand how victims can feel pressured to remain silent - that by reporting offences it somehow brings shame on the family - but they recognise now that by doing so it allows offenders to continue offending and puts other children at risk. 

“The girls have now got justice for the horrible abuse inflicted on them by Ahmed and are getting the support they need to move on with their lives… and they want other survivors of abuse to do the same." 

People can speak to West Midlands Police’s specialist Child Abuse Team in confidence by calling 101 or alternatively parents or children can contact the NSPCC.