A PROFESSIONAL boxer who groomed a 14-year-old girl for sex has been sent to prison.

‘Dangerous’ Atif Mushtaq, described as a predatory paedophile, lured the schoolgirl into his car and started a ‘relationship’ with her.

The 27-year-old offered the teen gifts, even promising to take her away to a hotel for her 15th birthday.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Police said he had even made the girl perform sex acts on him on the day he proposed to his fiancée.

Light welterweight Mushtaq pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to four years and eight months behind bars yesterday.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Sgt Mark Whelan, from the public protection unit, said Mushtaq was a ‘dangerous’ and ‘manipulative’ offender.

He said: “He was clearly of a predatory nature because he approached the victim at the side of the street.

“He was manipulative because he groomed her into sexual activity. Mushtaq is a dangerous individual.”

The grooming started when the defendant, who was engaged to be married and has a young child, pulled over in Nelson and stopped the teenager.

He told her she looked ‘pretty’ and asked for her telephone number.

For months, the pair communicated on Facebook and other internet forums.

Det Sgt Whelan said: “It started nicely, with chatty messages. But Mushtaq became more demanding.

“It was a classic grooming situation. He told her he was going to buy her some boots and take her to a hotel for her 15th birthday.

“To this day, she does not think that she has been groomed because she was not passed about to other men.

“We are now working with the girl to get her to feel better about herself.”

Mushtaq made his pro debut appearance at the former Reebok Stadium, in Bolton, in July 2013.

He had to settle for a draw with the experienced Kristian Laight with all four rounds scored level.

Last year he fought at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, in front of a crowd of 1,600 people.

At the same event, Luke Blackledge was crowned as the WBC International Silver super-middleweight champion.

Mustaq was caught when his car was pulled over for a spot check on September 11 last year and the youngster was found with him.

He had told her to tell officers that she was 18, police said.

Inside the vehicle, Mustaq also had a cosh and was charged with a further offence of possession of an offensive weapon.

He admitted all the allegations against him when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

As well as the prison term, he was also made to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

Det Sgt Whelan said he was pleased with the sentence and that the youngster had been ‘brave’ to tell police about what had happened to her.

He said: “This girl has been very brave coming forward. The information she was able to give us has taken this predatory paedophile out of circulation.

“We are very happy with the sentence as it puts out a message that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Lancashire.”

The officer encouraged anybody concerned about child sexual exploitation to speak to officers and get help.

He added: “Vulnerable children should feel happy to speak to officers and others working in the partnership at the engage team.”

For more information, contact the engagement team by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.