A ‘DANGEROUS sexual predator’ has admitted raping a 12-year-old girl he met outside a Blackburn cinema at midnight.

Imran Pervez, of Accrington, enticed the girl into his car and drove her around for six hours before subjecting the terrified youngster to a sex attack.

The girl has since been helped by the Engage Team, which was set up after Keep Them Safe, the Lancashire Telegraph investigation into the problem of girls being groomed for sex by older men.

After the case, Detective Constable Helen Mercer said: "This was an extremely disturbing case for all the officers involved.

“This man is a dangerous sexual predator who has targetted a vulnerable child.

“An efficient police response ensured he was caught before he could affect the lives of any other innocent youngsters.

"We hope that this plea and resultant sentence will send out a strong message and help the victim move forward from this extremely traumatic ordeal."

Pervez befriended his victim and two 15-year-old friends - one of whom he had met before - after meeting them at midnight outside Vue cinema in Blackburn on July 26.

After coaxing them into his blue Vauxhall Astra the 27-year-old and his 24-year-old friend Zaheer Khan spent six hours driving the trio around East Lancashire.

At around 6am both of the older girls got out of the vehicle in Accrington, and Pervez tuned his attentions to the youngest.

He parked the car in a back alley way behind Barden Road and demanded the youngster carry out a sex act on him, before he sexually assaulted her.

The girl managed to feign illness and when Pervez, of Pendle Street, Accrington, let her out of the car she fled. The girl was able to find her friend and the pair flagged down a passing policeman.

Pervez was arrested two days later.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to child abduction, rape and sexual assault on a girl under the age of 13.

Khan, of Clifton Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to one charge of child abduction.

The case has been adjourned to January 23 for sentencing. Pervez was remanded in custody.

Judge Stuart Baker further remanded Khan on conditional bail, including a requirement to live at a Bradford address and be subject to a nightly curfew .

THE Engage team has vowed to continue targeting anyone suspected of exploiting children.

The team, made up of social workers, police officers, and other child experts, was created at the start of this year to target those who groom youngsters for sex.

It is currently working with around 28 girls and their families in the Blackburn with Darwen area.

The issue of older men plying young girls with alcohol and drugs and bribing them with gifts in return for sex was highlighted by the Lancashire Telegraph in 2006.

Our Keep Them Safe Campaign was launched to raise awareness and prompted the police to set up a special operation.

Engage is the successor to this crackdown.

Pervez’s victim has been helped by Engage staff.

Detective Sergaent Mark Whelan, of the Engage team, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this case and by pleading guilty the defendent has saved the victim the ordeal of having to go to court and give evidence before a jury.

"This successful prosecution is further testament to the efforts of the multi-agency Engage team, whose work to support the victim has greatly helped the police investigation.

"Engage will continue to target anyone suspected of exploiting children to get the message out that this is unacceptable, criminal behavioiur.”

Information can be passed to officers by contacting them on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone with concerns about the sexual exploitation of a youngster can contact the Engage team on 01254 267790.