A police constable, who previously served as a neighbourhood officer in Tameside, has been formally dismissed from Greater Manchester Police after being jailed for repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl.

PC Farooq Ahmed, 38, who was previously based in GMP's Tameside district for around three years, was dismissed on Thursday (7 October) following a public misconduct hearing chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Watson.

Ahmed was convicted in December 2020 at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, as well as one count of making an indecent image of a child. The offences occurred between 2016 and 2018.

On 5 January 2021, Ahmed was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, as well as being given a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and his name added to the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: "I'm appalled by this disgusting abuse of a young girl and I am pleased that justice has been served which was a result of a robust and thorough criminal investigation undertaken by detectives from GMP's Oldham CID.

"I expect our officers to uphold the highest standards of conduct with public safety being their main priority. Ahmed fell well below these standards when he committed these unforgivable offences and his actions do not represent what I expect of an officer of the Greater Manchester Police."

GMP say Ahmed, of Mossley Road in Ashton, was suspended from his duties after being charged with the offences.

The girl has been offered specialist police support throughout the investigation, a senior officer from GMP's Oldham CID said. 

Detective Sergeant Zahid Latif said at the time of Ahmed being jailed: "This was disgusting abuse of a young girl and it is important that justice has been served for the victim, who has been receiving support from specialist officers and partner agencies throughout this investigation.

"The victim has been at the heart of this case during the entirety of our investigation and we hope that she and her loved ones are able to take some comfort from the sentence.

"There is absolutely no place for abuse such as this in our society. Ahmed is now behind bars to consider his actions and the profound impact they have had on his victim."

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