He was described as ‘a manipulative sexual predator who groomed two girls for his own sexual gratification and attempted to pressure them to deny this to the police’
Suleman Baig admitted a series of offences(Image: Humberside Police)
A “despicable” and “manipulative” solicitor who groomed two young girls has been jailed. Suleman Baig coaxed the victims into engaging in sexual activity and sending explicit images before pressuring them to retract their account.
Baig, 40, of Grimsby, denied all the allegations against him until proceedings were underway. He then pleaded guilty on the second day of a trial at Leeds Crown Court in December.
He admitted a number of offences including three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of paying for sexual services of a child, two counts of sexual communications with a child, two counts of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice, attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child, sexual assault, making indecent photographs of children, and possession of prohibited images of children.
Humberside Police were first alerted to Baig’s actions in November 2021, when a third-party report was made regarding concern for the welfare of a young girl. Detectives spoke to the girl and she told them a man had been “requesting indecent images in return for money and taking part in sexual activity with her”.
She had been receiving multiple messages from Baig through social media which “further highlighted the extent of his fixation”. The following day, officers visited Baig’s home address. At first he tried to “hide” but police eventually gained entry and he was arrested on suspicion of causing a female to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
Meanwhile, during the investigation, concerns were raised about a second girl who had allegedly been subjected to sexual abuse from Baig. Officers explored new lines of enquiry and the girl was interviewed. She provided police with a statement of her account regarding Baig’s offending.
He was initially released on conditional bail while evidence was gathered but he breached the conditions twice just days later when he sneaked into the home of one of the girls to “ask her to pressure her friend to retract her statement”. Electronics, including a mobile phone, were seized when Baig was first arrested and these were examined by the police’s Digital Forensics Unit.
This uncovered thousands of text messages as well as explicit images and videos involving the young girls. Baig was questioned about these findings and allegations and was then further arrested on suspicion of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
When he admitted his guilt last month, Baig was released on conditional bail and ordered to hand in all travel documents. However, the passport he handed in at Grimsby Police Station, in Victoria Street, was later found to be expired and he still had his current travel documents in his possession.
Baig was rearrested on suspicion of breach of bail conditions and remained in custody until his sentencing this week.
During an appearance at Leeds Crown Court on Monday (January 26), Baig was sentenced to nine years and nine months behind bars. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention order.
Leading the investigation Philip Shrimpton, from Humberside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People unit, said: “I would like to start by commending the bravery of both young girls for reporting the abuse Baig had subjected them to. I would also like to thank the many witnesses and friends of the victims who came forward and were willing to stand in court to give statements.
“Baig was a practising criminal solicitor and yet still committed such abhorrent crimes against these girls. It has been a lengthy and complex investigation, but it is thanks to their courage that he is being held accountable for his despicable sexual deviancy.
“Baig is a manipulative sexual predator who groomed two girls for his own sexual gratification and attempted to pressure them to deny this to the police. Whilst he continued to deny all these allegations up until day two of the trial, making the girls and their families go through all the court proceedings, I am glad he is now behind bars and prevented from causing further harm to others.
“We always treat cases of this nature with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity and would encourage anyone who has been a victim of recent or non-recent sexual abuse, or anyone who believes someone they know is suffering at the hands of a man like Baig, to please tell someone.
“You can report crimes of this nature via our non-emergency number 101 or always call 999 in an emergency. There are also a number of independent support networks and partner agencies who can offer help.”