A shameless Dundee takeaway boss has been jailed for abusing a little boy and young girl in a campaign of rape and sexual assault lasting nearly two decades.
A High Court judge said it was impossible to assess Ghulam Bajwa’s risk of reoffending because he continues to deny the offences.
The 41-year-old was convicted in July of preying on the children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, following a trial
Judge Lord Braid said Bajwa’s offending had been “systematic and ongoing abuse”, which had a lasting impact on his female victim.
He said: “You appear as a first offender, having no previous convictions.
“The criminal justice social work report makes clear you continue to deny (the offence) and express no remorse.
“It’s practically impossible to assess the level of risk you pose of sexual reoffending.”
He added: “The indecent assault (of the male victim) and rape in charge nine alone would merit seven years (imprisonment).
“The abuse of your female victim over 12 years and the fact she was a child at the time…and the detrimental effect the abuse has had on her were aggravating factors, which I also take into account.
“There are no mitigating factors except for your previous good character.”
Remorse would be ‘politician’s apology’
Solicitor advocate Gordon Martin, representing Bajwa, said his client’s wife and son had been left to run his business, the Curryummy restaurant in the Dundee’s Hilltown area, following his remand.
He said as Bajwa had given evidence in his own defence and denied the offences on oath, to accept guilt would be admitting perjury.
“I can’t say what I think about his offences given his continued denial of them.
“He’s aware he’s required to accept the verdict of the jury and the court has to deal with him in respect of that verdict.
“He has every sympathy for victims of these crimes.
“He has no sympathy for the complainers in this case because he denies the charges – it would be hypocritical for him to express sympathy.
“It would be akin to a politician’s apology that something they said upset you, rather than sorry they upset you.
“A sentence of imprisonment will have an impact on his family – they and he will have to get on with that.”
Abuse happened in Dundee and Dubai
Commenting that he was using the updated sentencing guidelines, which came into force on Wednesday, Lord Braid ordered Bajwa serve 12 years in prison and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register.
Bajwa, of Brown Constable Street, Dundee was convicted of multiple sexual assaults against two children at addresses in the Dundee area and at an unknown location in Dubai between September 2001 and 2019.
He was further convicted of raping a teenager at an address in Dundee in 2018, when she was 18 or 19.
His campaign of abuse only ended when his female victim confided in a friend when she was 20.
The High Court in Edinburgh had previously heard how Bajwa started abusing the girl in February 2007.
He subjected her to repeated sexual assaults over a period of 12 years, before he raped her in 2018.
The beginning of the abuse came just six to seven years after he indecently assaulted a teenage boy at a house in Broughty Ferry.
During the proceedings, Bajwa denied any wrongdoing and claimed his two victims were liars.
