An 18-year-old named Adil Rashid, who was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl he groomed on Facebook, has avoided a prison sentence after a judge heard that his Islamic education had left him ignorant of British law and with skewed views about women.
Rashid, from Birmingham, claimed he did not know it was illegal to have sex with a minor because his schooling had not taught him about the legal system in the UK. The court was told that Rashid had attended an Islamic faith school where he was taught that women are of little value.
Judge Michael Stokes, presiding over the case at Nottingham Crown Court, handed Rashid a suspended sentence, acknowledging that despite being 18, Rashid was “naive and immature” regarding sexual matters. The judge explained that while similar crimes typically result in a four to seven-year prison term, Rashid’s “passive” nature and lack of assertiveness suggested that incarceration might do him “more harm than good.”
Rashid admitted to having sex with the girl, saying he was “tempted by her” after they met online. They initially communicated via Facebook, later exchanging texts and phone calls over two months. Eventually, they met in Nottingham, where Rashid had booked a room at a Premier Inn. The girl reported that they stayed at the hotel for two hours and had sex after Rashid went to the bathroom and returned wearing a condom. After the encounter, Rashid returned home and went to a mosque to pray.
The police arrested Rashid after the girl confided in a school friend, who informed a teacher. During police interviews, Rashid admitted knowing the girl was 13 but claimed he was initially hesitant to engage in sexual activity before giving in to temptation. He also revealed that he had “little experience of women” due to his education at an Islamic school in the UK, which cannot be named for legal reasons. Rashid told a psychologist that he was unaware it was illegal to have sex with a 13-year-old, learning this only after being informed by a family member.
In court, Rashid’s defense lawyer, Laban Leake, argued that his client had a “degree of sexual naivety” due to the isolated nature of his education and upbringing. Judge Stokes sentenced Rashid to nine months of youth custody, suspended for two years, along with a two-year probation supervision order.
The judge noted Rashid’s unusual education, particularly regarding sexual matters, describing the comparison of women to “lollipops” as a peculiar way to educate young men about sex. However, the judge emphasized that Rashid knew what he was doing was wrong, as his school had taught that sexual relations outside of marriage were against Islamic principles.
Addressing Rashid, the judge acknowledged that the girl was willing to engage in sexual activity but reminded him that the law exists to protect young girls, even if they consent.