Shop owner from Barking who sexually assaulted young boy inside shop jailed

Hannan Ullah from Barking has been jailed (credit: Met Police)

Two men, including a shop owner from Barking, have been jailed after sexually assaulting a young boy inside a shop.

The pair befriended the victim over time, before abusing him on four occasions in Westferry between Monday, 15 January and Friday, 2 February in 2018.

Shop owner, Hannan Ullah from Barking, and shopkeeper, Mohammed Shahabit Alom from Tower Hamlets carried out the assaults inside the Ferus Superstore, sometimes in a storage room.

Other boys in the shop witnessed the final offence and reported to the victim’s mother what had happened.

On Thursday, 8 March 2018, officers arrested the owner of the shop Ullah, at the store. He was later bailed.

Alom was interviewed under caution on Tuesday, 20 March 2018 and both men were charged in May 2019.

The pair were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 28 January following a four day trial last November which found them guilty.

Ullah, 57, of Longbridge Road, was sentenced to two years and four months’ in prison, of which 14 months will served on licence, for sexual activity with a child.

Alom, 62, of Ashdown Walk, was sentenced to two years and four months’ in prison, of which 14 months will be served on licence, for three counts of sexual touching of a boy under 13.

Officers worked behind the scenes to protect and safeguard the victim.

Both men received an indefinite restraining order not to contact the victim directly or indirectly.

The investigating officer from Central East Basic Command Unit, Detective Constable Fatima Ahmad said: “These two men prayed on an innocent young boy to fulfil their sexual gratification.

“I would like to praise the bravery of the victim who came forward and gave evidence which has resulted in putting them behind bars.”

The shop has since been closed down.

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