MP Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting 15-Year-Old Boy

Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, the MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.

The court heard that Khan forced the boy to drink gin and tonic at a party before dragging him upstairs, pushing him onto a bed, and asking him to watch pornography before the attack.

The victim, now 29, told the jury he felt "scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised" after Khan touched his feet and legs. He said Khan came within "a hair's breadth" of his privates as he tried to sleep in a top bunkbed.

The victim reported the incident to the police at the time, but no further action was taken because he did not want to make a formal complaint. However, he said "it all came flooding back" when Khan stood as a Conservative in the December 2019 general election.

The victim made a complaint to the police days after Khan was elected as MP for Wakefield. Khan was sent a questionnaire by Staffordshire Police rather than being interviewed under caution at the station because of "COVID protocols in place at the time".

Khan denied sexual assault and claimed he only touched the 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.

The jury found Khan guilty after five hours of deliberations. The judge, Mr Justice Baker, will sentence Khan at a later date. He told Khan: "You have been convicted by a jury of this offence of sexual assault and you will have to be sentenced in due course. All sentencing options, including immediate custody, are being considered by the court."

Khan's firm, Janes Solicitors, said he "maintains his innocence" and "will be appealing as soon as possible".

Labour called for Khan's immediate resignation as an MP, with a spokesperson saying: "Imran Ahmad Khan should immediately resign so a by-election can take place and the people of Wakefield can get the representation they deserve."

Tory MP Crispin Blunt said he was "utterly appalled and distraught at the dreadful miscarriage of justice that has befallen my friend and colleague". He said: "His conviction today is nothing short of an international scandal, with dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ Muslims around the world."