Darwen dealer abused girls in hotels after drugging them

In March last year, reports were made to the police of three separate incidents where girls were given drugs such as nitrous oxide, ketamine, and cocaine by Azam Khan.

The girls were then taken to hotels and houses in the Chorley and Darwen areas, where they were sexually abused.

Police launched an investigation and teamed-up with Lancashire County Council’s social workers to support the victims, who were then interviewed by specially-trained officers.

Evidence was gathered which showed Khan – nicknamed ‘Kaizer’ - and co-defendant, Jack Anderson-Rigby, were involved together in a significant drug-dealing operation in which they advertised on Snapchat and other social media, selling drugs across Lancashire.

Khan and Anderson-Rigby were arrested and then charged in April 2023.

Azam Khan (Image: Lancs Police)

In December, Khan, 29, formerly of Seacole Close, Blackburn, and then Beaumont Way, Darwen, was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court after a seven-day trial of sexual activity with a child, four counts of sexual assault, and attempting to engage a person in sexual activity without consent.

Khan was also convicted of being concerned in the supply of class A, B and C controlled drugs.

At a sentencing hearing today (Thursday, January 18), Judge Simon Medland KC, jailed Khan for nine years and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Anderson-Rigby, 22, of Chorley Lane, Charnock Richard, pleaded guilty to possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply and sexual assault on a child.

He was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

DS Simon Massey, of Lancashire Police’s South Exploitation Team, said: “These were very serious offences committed by Khan.

“Khan has shown himself to be a sexual predator, taking advantage of teenage girls by offering them drugs and sexually assaulting them.

“The victims showed great courage in difficult circumstances – against a background of threats and intimidation – to attend court and give their evidence at the trial.

“Lancashire Police take sexual offences extremely seriously and we do everything in our power to put offenders before the courts and bring them to justice.”