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A depraved Afghan sex beast who hunted a schoolgirl for "sexual pleasure" is set to dodge deportation despite a 40-month sentence due to an absolute legal block. An Afghan asylum seeker who carried out a persistent campaign of stalking against a schoolgirl has been jailed for 40 months at...

A depraved Afghan sex beast who hunted a schoolgirl for "sexual pleasure" is set to dodge deportation despite a 40-month sentence due to an absolute legal block.
An Afghan asylum seeker who carried out a persistent campaign of stalking against a schoolgirl has been jailed for 40 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, amid legal indications that he is unlikely to face deportation.
Sabjan Burkazi, 30, appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to stalking causing serious alarm or distress, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and three counts of making indecent images of children.
The court heard that despite his sentence meeting the threshold for automatic deportation, the defendant’s previous service supporting Western governments in Afghanistan may provide a legal exemption to removal.
Burkazi, of the Tunstall area of Stoke-on-Trent, targeted the underage victim over several months, frequently appearing on her route to school and at a local park.
Prosecutor James Hudson told the court the defendant repeatedly approached the girl, offering her money and making inappropriate comments.
The campaign escalated to a physical confrontation in an alleyway, where Burkazi grabbed the victim’s arm and attempted to pull her toward his home before her friend intervened.
Following his arrest, police seized electronic devices containing 64 indecent images of children, categorized across various levels of severity.
In a written victim impact statement, the schoolgirl detailed how the defendant’s obsession had caused her significant anxiety and led her to change her daily routines.
She stated that the persistent nature of his approaches made her feel unsafe in public spaces and had left her psychologically impacted.
Mr Hudson described how the victim had been forced to provide a false telephone number in an attempt to deter Burkazi’s advances, which included him performing a sex act in her presence while she was with friends in a park.
Defending, Rashad Mohammed said Burkazi had fled Afghanistan in August 2021 after the Taliban returned to power, fearing for his life due to his military associations.
The court heard that his initial asylum application had been refused and a final determination on his appeal is currently pending.
Mr Mohammed submitted that the defendant was suffering from loneliness and isolation at the time of the offences and expressed genuine remorse for the distress caused.
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He acknowledged that the criminal convictions would likely jeopardise his client's immigration status but noted the specific protection concerns regarding his return to Afghanistan.
Passing sentence, Judge Graeme Smith told Burkazi that he had developed a disturbing obsession with the child which resulted in persistent and alarming behaviour.
The judge noted that while the defendant is technically liable for automatic deportation under standard Home Office criteria, the police and relevant authorities do not expect him to be removed from the UK. "You are in principle liable to automatic deportation at that point," Judge Smith said. "But there are exceptions to that principle and the understanding of the police is that you will not be deported."
The defendant was handed a 40-month custodial sentence, of which he will serve half in custody before being released on licence. In addition to the prison term, Judge Smith imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered that Burkazi remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for a period of 10 years.
The judge warned the defendant that if he remains in the country following his release, he must strictly comply with all licensing conditions and the requirements of the SHPO or face further custodial proceedings.
5 March 2026 at 17:042 min read
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