NCA trial: Takeaway driver denies sexually assaulting schoolgirl

Khurram Javed (35), of Clifton Crescent, Rotherham, is on trial at Sheffield Crown Court accused of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2014 against two girls who were aged 13 and 16 at the time.

The trial is part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood which is investigating non-familial child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Javed was interviewed by police four years ago about his relationship with a girl who was 16 at the time. 

He is alleged to have sexually assaulted and raped the girl in March, 2014.

In his interview, Javed told police that he gave the teenager a lift to Kimberworth Park in his black Audi and dropped her off later that evening.

He said the girl said she did not have any money and asked if she could pay him the following day.

Javed said the girl asked to spend time with him and asked him to take her to McDonald’s, which he did.

During another meeting between the two, Javed asked the girl how old she was. 

“I thought she was 17 or 18,” he told police.

“She kissed me and I said: “I'm not sure how old you are.”

“I said: ‘You don't look old enough’ and she said: ‘’I’m old enough, I'm 17.’”

Javed told the girl he shouldn't be there and she told him “not to worry”, he said.

He said the girl would text him to ask how he was doing and ask him to come to her place.

Javed said he had picked the girl up from the supported living accommodation she was staying at and took her to his friend's shop in Wakefield.

He picked her up on March 5, 2014 — the day on which Javed is alleged to have sexually assaulted and raped the girl.

Javed told police that the girl tried to kiss him, but he said to her: “Listen, before I do anything I need to know how old you are — but I’m not interested in that kind of thing anyway.”

He denied kissing her with his tongue and touching her inappropriately.

Earlier this week, the court was told Javed sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in an alleyway while he was working as a takeaway driver.

The trial continues.