Primark security guard convicted of raping teenage girls

A PRIMARK security guard raped and sexually assaulted teenage girls he caught shoplifting in the store, a court heard.

Zia Uddin, 27, forced 15-year-olds to perform sexual acts in return for not telling their parents about shoplifting. He raped and sexually assaulted these girls while working in the Kingston upon Thames branch of the fashion retailer in 2017, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

One of his victims said she did as she was told as 2 "there was no other choice."

The court heard that Uddin kept condoms in the control room, and was “well aware” of the branch’s CCTV blind spots

Police were alerted to Uddin's predatory behaviour after someone close to one of the victims complained.

Following a trial at Kingston Crown court, Uddin, who worked for Brooknight Security, was found guilty of rape and four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Graham Partridge, from the CPS, said: “Zia Uddin preyed on young girls in a vulnerable situation.

"He abused his authority by telling them to perform sexual acts for him on the promise they would then be released without their parents or the police being informed about what they had done.

“The prosecution case was able to rely on strong witness testimony from the victims who were able to give evidence via pre-recorded video after the CPS applied for special measures.”

Uddin, of Manor Park, Newham, was found to have made phone calls to other girls accused of shoplifting.

During the trial Uddin claimed his victims were lying and refused to take responsibility for his actions.

Partridge said: “He has now been held accountable for his actions.

“The CPS takes sexual offences extremely seriously and will prosecute offenders where there is the evidence to do so.”

Uddin will be sentenced on November 19 at Kingston Crown Court.

A spokesman for Primark said: “This has been a horrendous ordeal for the victims and their families and we are truly sorry for what they have suffered. Our thoughts are very much with them.

“The nature of these offences is shocking and distressing.

“Zia Uddin abused the trust that was placed in him by his employer, Brooknight Security, and by us, by taking advantage of his victims, who were young and vulnerable.”