A MAN who “targeted a young girl” in a town centre sex attack has been handed a suspended sentence.

Minhaj Khan, 31, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, January 31 after prosecutors had previously argued for a starting point of two and a half years in prison.

Khan, whose address was given as Hutton Close in Luton, had previously been found guilty of one count of sexual assault after claiming he kissed a vulnerable teen “as part of his civic duty”.

A pre-sentence hearing at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court last month was told Khan had “targeted a visibly young girl” on Crescent Street in Weymouth, at 4.20pm on October 10 of last year.

It was said that,whilst Khan’s victim was 17 at the time of the incident, it was “accepted” at the trial by the defence solicitor, prosecutors and the court that she looked “no more than 14 or 15” of age.

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, said the teen had been “walking on her own” having been to college when Khan approached her and said “you’re really cute”. 

He then reached out with both his arms, pulled the girl in close and hugged for two to three minutes “before loosening his grip”.

The court was told Khan subsequently took the girl's phone, made a note of the details of her Instagram account before attempting to add himself.

Khan hugged the girl again, kissed her in the middle of forehead, touched her face and attempted to lift it - prosecutors said in an effort to kiss the victim on the lips.

Khan said he had “no sexual interest” in the girl and instead had touched the teenager “out of concern” and as ‘part of his civic duty’.

At the trial, the victim said she was left feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” after the assault and that it “brought back memories” from a previous incident when she was 12.

A victim impact statement was read to the court in which the teenager said she felt “dirty and uncomfortable” after the incident.

She said: “This violation of my body made me feel dirty and uncomfortable. I am now extremely embarrassed and ashamed. It has brought back memories (of a previous incident) I don’t like, I am now scared to trust again.

“I can no longer walk along Crescent Street because I am scared it is going to happen again.”

In sentencing, Khan was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of seven years with a sexual harm prevention order in place for five years. 

Her Honour Judge Evans KC sentenced Khan to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with a requirement to complete 60 rehabilitation days.