Man Sentenced For Rape And Sexual Offences On Girls In West Sussex

A man who groomed young girls via social media to sexually abuse them in West Sussex has been jailed.

Tarek Miah used online platforms to make contact with the girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and have a legal right to anonymity.

The 20-year-old admitted four counts of rape on one victim, aged under 13, between 2023 and 2024.

Meanwhile he pretended to be a teenage boy in order to incite a second girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity between 2024 to 2025.

He also met two girls in a public car park in Midhurst in February this year, where he then locked them in and drove away as they raised concerns to their friends.

At Portsmouth Crown Court on 24 June he appeared for sentencing, and was jailed for 15 years.

He will serve a minimum of ten years in prison before he can be considered for parole, and will serve an extended sentence which includes three additional years on the period he can be recalled to prison if he is released.

Miah, formerly of an address in Littlehampton Road, Salvington, admitted four counts of rape of a girl under the age of 13 in between 2023 and 2024.

He admitted two counts of false imprisonment, one count of inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, one count of inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, causing a child under the age of 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, and one count of making an indecent image of a child.

The court made him a registered sex offender until further order, and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his access to computer and mobile phone devices and access to children.

Detective Constable Peter Parkinson said:

“Tarek Miah is a dangerous offender who deliberately targeted young girls.

“We are very pleased with the sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to the victims and their families.

“I would also like to commend the children who came forward and showed immense courage in standing up to their abuser.

"Their bravery has ensured that Tarek Miah is serving a significant custodial sentence and has prevented him from harming other children.”

Advice and support for victims of rape and sexual assault is available on the Safe:Space Sussex website.

Further information about how Sussex Police investigates report of rape and sexual offences is available online here.