Orla Mackinnon
Former Conservative MP Imran Ahmed Khan has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court last month, Khan was found guilty of groping a fifteen-year-old boy at a party in January 2008. The court heard how Khan also forced the boy to drink alcohol before dragging him upstairs, asking him to watch pornography and then assaulting him. Following the conviction, the 48-year-old was expelled by the Conservative Party and resigned as the MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire.
The victim, who is now 29-years-old, told the court in an impact statement that he has battled “suicidal thoughts” and has had trouble with relationships and work due to the impact of the assault.
“Throughout my teenage years, I found being touched in any way very difficult… I still find it difficult and embarrassing to talk about sex. Being touched without warning still freaks me out. My mental health has deteriorated rapidly since deciding to come forward and having to constantly relive an event I tried to bury for such a long time.”
After sentencing Khan, the judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said the former MP showed “no remorse” for his actions whilst his victim has been “profoundly psychologically affected.” Addressing Khan, he added: “The only regret you feel is towards yourself for having found yourself in the predicament you face as a result of your actions some 14 years ago.”
“Khan’s jailing comes at a time when the Conversative Party has been dealing with a number of other scandals involving its MPs.”
However, Mr Justice Baker said the former MP’s actions were not “sufficiently severe enough to place the assault into the most severe category” and gave Khan a lesser sentence based on testimonies that he was “a man of good character” and a lack of previous convictions.
Khan’s jailing comes at a time when the Conservative Party has been dealing with a number of other scandals involving its MPs. Last week it was reported that a male Tory MP had been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences spanning a seven-year period. Additionally, Neil Parish resigned as MP for Tiverton and Honiton at the beginning of May after being caught watching pornography multiple times in the House of Commons.
A by-election in Khan’s former Wakefield constituency is expected to take place on Thursday 23 June.
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