A takeaway worker from Bury has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to a string of sex offences against teenage girls.
Thirty-four year-old Homayon Norouzzad was jailed for four years at Bolton Crown Court and ordered to remain on licence for eight years after admitting sexual activity with 18 different girls aged between 12 and 15.
The Iranian-born fitness fanatic – who lived in a flat above the Family Guy takeaway where he worked in Bury – had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 34 offences of sexual activity with a child.
Between May 2010 and March 2011 he used his position at a takeaway to meet young girls and encourage them to perform sexual acts on him for money.
He befriended most of them by offering them free food. He then went on to persuade them to come into the takeaway’s back room while he was working alone, where the abuse would take place.
He paid his victims between £5 and £90, depending on the extent of the sex acts, and also abused girls in his flat above the shop.
Known locally as “Smiley” due to his happy and friendly nature, Narouzzad also had a particular sexual fetish for socks and feet.
These are three children that should be enjoying their lives. Instead each has their own nightmare. Judge Maureen Roddy
Narouzzad was arrested on 4 March 2011 after police were contacted by a parent of one of the victims concerned about her child frequenting his flat.
Judge Maureen Roddy said the impact on the victims had been “devastating”.
“There is no doubt that you knew these girls were under-age – they should not have been engaged in any kind of activity of this kind.”
During the trial, three of the victims produced impact statements which were read out in court. One said she had wished she was dead and another revealed she tried to self-harm with a razor blade.
“These are three children that should be enjoying their lives. Instead each has their own nightmare. Each suffered significant psychological harm,” Judge Roddy said.
Det Insp Jane Little, of Bury police’s public protection investigation unit, said: “We have been working closely with the local authority to ensure the investigation was carried out sensitively and with minimal disruption to the lives of these youngsters.
“Child sex exploitation is something that parents and carers everywhere should be aware of. It can be committed by all ethnicities and against boys as well as girls,” she continued.