Former Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Former Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been jailed for 18 months over the sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy.
The 48-year-old forced the boy to drink gin and tonic, pushed him on to a bed and asked him to watch pornography before the attack at a house in Staffordshire in January 2008.
The victim, now 29, said he was left feeling “scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised” after Khan, then 34, touched his feet and legs, coming within “a hair’s breadth” of his privates, as he went to sleep in a top bunkbed following a party.
Khan, who was elected as a Tory MP for Wakefield in 2019, denied sexual assault and continues to maintain his innocence after being convicted by a jury.
Sentencing him at Southwark crown court to 18 months in prison on Monday, Mr Justice Baker said Khan had not shown any remorse.
“Rather, I’m satisfied any regret you feel is only to yourself, having found yourself in the predicament you now find yourself as a result of your actions 14 years ago.”
Khan displayed little emotion as he was led away to the cells, wheeling behind him a suitcase of possessions as well as a shopping bag from the upmarket Dr Harris & Co perfumers in St James’s.
Khan was expelled from the Conservative Party in the wake of his conviction and he stepped down as an MP, triggering a by-election in Wakefield.
The victim did not make a police report at the time of the attack, but came forward after Khan emerged victorious from the 2019 General Election.
The judge said the assault may have stayed buried forever except for the publicity around his Parliamentary campaign, when the victim felt he would “have to face the fact you still existed and he couldn’t bury it any longer.”
“Because of this assault, throughout my teenage years I found being touched in any way difficult”, said the victim in court, outlining the last impact on his personal life.
“My mental health has declined rapidly since deciding to come forward, having to relive constantly relive everything I tried to bury for such a long time.”
His family have struggled with guilty for letting “that man” into the home, he said, glancing at Khan in the dock.
“I have had my own assault pantomimed back to me on the stand, being called a liar”, he added, saying he has struggled with suicidal thoughts.
Khan, who is gay and a Muslim, denied sexual assault, claiming he only touched the Catholic teenager’s elbow when he “became extremely upset” after a conversation about his confused sexuality.
He said he was trying to be “kind” and “helpful” but the teenager became upset and “bolted” when the topic of pornography was raised.
However the judge said Khan had circled the bunk bed in a bid to carry out the sexual assault, giving the boy gin and tonic to try to further his intentions, and left the victim “crying inconsolably” in his parents’ bed after he had “bolted” to get away.
Gudrun Young QC, for Khan, said the disgraced politician had been spat at in the street, shunned by the community, and may never work again.
“His life has effectively been in freefall”, she said. “Everything he has ever worked for and achieved in his life has gradually been stripped from him, culminating of course in his conviction.”
She said Khan had given unchallenged evidence in the trial that he was unaware the victim was under the age of 16, but had still be branded a “paedophile”.
“He has been plunged into the deepest pit of ignominy and shame”, she added.
“He has been expelled from the Conservative Party, expelled from his local faith group, lifelong friends have shunned him, he has face the violence and abuse of social media, and strangers have come up and spat at him in the street.”
Khan has already indicated his intention to appeal his conviction, with former Justice Crispin Blunt speaking up to defend him, suggesting Khan did not get a “fair trial”.
Mr Blunt, the MP for Reigate, has announced he will stand down from Parliament at the next election, and has faced criticism from Conservative colleagues for his comments.
