Paedophile who groomed victim on Facebook claimed his Muslim upbringing meant 'he didn't know it was illegal to have sex with 13-year-old girl'

• Adil Rashid admitted travelling to Nottingham and having sex with the girl 
• He met the 13-year-old on Facebook and they communicated by texts and phone for two months before they met
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• He was educated in a madrassa and 'had little experience of women'
• Said he had been taught 'women are no more worthy than a lollipop that has been dropped on the ground'
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• Added he was reluctant to have sex but that he was 'tempted by [the girl]'

Ignorant: Adil Rashid (pictured) did not know it was illegal to have sex with a 13-year-old girl

A paedophile who met his victim on Facebook didn't know it was illegal to have sex with the 13-year-old girl because of his sheltered Muslim upbringing, a court heard.

Adil Rashid admitted travelling to Nottingham in July last year and having sex with the teenager who can't be named for legal reasons.

He had met the girl on the social networking site Facebook, and communicated with her by text messages and phone for two months before they met.

Julia Smart, defending, had told an earlier hearing at Nottingham Crown Court that Rashid, 18, had been educated in a madrassa and had ‘little experience of women’.

The barrister said Rashid had told a psychologist after his arrest that he did not know having sex with a 13-year-old was against the law.

In other interviews with psychologists Rashid claimed he had been taught by his madrassa that ‘women are no more worthy than a lollipop that has been dropped on the ground.’

The case had been adjourned for more reports on Rashid ahead of sentencing.

Rashid had pre-booked a family room at a Premier Hotel in Goldsmith Street, Nottingham before travelling to the city by train.

After meeting up with the girl near Nottingham's Old Market Square the pair made their way to the hotel where they had sex.

Judge Stokes said the victim told police she and Rashid had sex after Rashid emerged from the bathroom wearing a condom, while Rashid claimed the girl had produced a condom and seduced him.

The pair stayed in the hotel for two hours before leaving, with Rashid returning to his Birmingham home by train.

Rashid was arrested the following week after the girl told a school friend what had happened. 

The friend then informed a teacher who alerted police.

The defendant admitted to police that he had travelled to Nottingham to have sex with the girl knowing she was 13.

He also claimed to police that he was initially reluctant to have sex but had been ‘tempted by her’.

Judge Michael Stokes QC told prosecutor Mr Knowles: ‘He must have known it was illegal, unless he was going round with his eyes shut.’

Laban Leake, defending, said psychology and educational reports suggested Rashid had a ‘degree of sexual naivety.’

Mr Leake said: ‘The school he attended, and it is not going too far to say, can be described as a closed community, and on this occasion this was perpetuated by his home life.

Sentenced: Rashid admitted at Nottingham Crown Court (pictured) that he had sex with a 13-year-old after she 'tempted' him

‘It is not too far to say that he may not have known that having sex with a 13-year-old girl was illegal.’

The judge told Mr Leake: ‘He's had an unusual education, certainly in terms of the sexual education provided. 

Comparing women to lollipops is a very curious way of teaching young men about sex.’

Mr Leake said that after returning to Birmingham Rashid had ‘felt bad about having sexual intercourse’ and had gone to his mosque to pray.

Rashid, added Mr Leake, had not known it was illegal to have sex with someone under 16 until told so by a family member.

The defendant, a student, was sentenced to nine months youth custody suspended for two years. The judge described Rashid as ‘passive and lacking assertiveness’ and sending him to jail might cause him ‘more damage than good’.

Judge Stokes said he noted that reports into Rashid stated that the madrassa he attended had made it clear that sex outside religion was forbidden by Islam.

The judge told Rashid: ‘Although chronologically 18, it is quite clear from the reports that you are very naive and immature when it comes to sexual matters.

 You have had a rather unfortunate upbringing in relation to sexual matters, although it was made clear to you at the school you attended that having sexual relations with a woman before marriage was contrary to the precepts of Islam.’

The judge added that although Rashid might not have known having sex with an underage girl was illegal, he did know that such an act was wrong.

The judge also added that it was clear from the text messages exchanged between the pair that the girl had been a willing partner.

Judge Excuses Pedophile Because of Islamic Upbringing...