Teenager who attempted to meet 12-year-old girl for sex avoids prison

AN Iranian teenager attempted to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex before he was snared by paedophile hunters.
Adam Mariwani, 19, arrived in the country in the back of a lorry in December last year, and spent the first month of his stay in an immigration detention centre.
He was later released, and in March first made contact with who he believed to be a 12-year-old girl named Amber.
Taking part in more than 100 social media exchanges with “Amber”, Mariwani sent sexually charged messages and explicit pictures of himself.
He was in fact talking to Team Impact, a group which aims to snare paedophiles.
Appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, Mariwani avoided prison.
Wayne Cranston-Morris, prosecuting, said: “The defendant made inappropriate, sexual suggestions towards a child he believed to be only 12 years of age, inviting her to ‘stay with him for just one night – or forever’.”
The paedophile hunters arranged to have “Amber” meet with Mariwani at Colchester Town train station.
Mr Cranston-Morris said: “They were of course aware, because of the photos sent by the defendant, what he looked like.
“The defendant soon arrived at the station.
“He, in earlier exchanges, ensured she was travelling alone and not with any parent.”
When Mariwani was approached by the group, he tried to flee, but was chased and brought back to the station where police later arrested him.
The confrontation was captured on camera.
Rakesh Sharma, mitigating, said: “He arrived in the country in the back of a lorry, fleeing for his safety.
“He has not worked properly since he came into the country – he will have to wait for the decision from the authorities before he is allowed to take up employment.
“Mr Mariwani is himself somewhat vulnerable, having arrived alone in the country at the age of 18.”
The teenager admitted a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
Judge Christopher Morgan sentenced Mariwani, who is temporarily living in Balin House, London, to one year and nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
“I hope your time in custody has reinforced the fact that in this country, as in many others around the world, sexual behaviour with children under the age of 16 is impermissible and unlawful.”