Met Police Special Constable Caught Groping Teen in Tesco
A Metropolitan Police Special Constable has been convicted after CCTV footage showed him groping a 14-year-old girl inside a Tesco supermarket—and then targeting her again on the street.
Shocking Assault in Central London Tesco
Hassnain Shahzad, 27, carried out the sickening attack on 25 August 2023 at 10.48pm in a Tesco store in central London. The teenage girl was shopping with her mother when Shahzad, standing behind them in the queue, touched her inappropriately. Initially, she thought it was accidental—until she noticed Shahzad holding a packet of pineapple chunks. This seemingly minor detail proved crucial in identifying him.
Moments later, CCTV outside the store caught Shahzad deliberately approaching and touching the girl again on the pavement, showing clear predatory intent.
Victim’s Family Speak Out: “He Has No Moral Compass”
The girl only told her mother about the assault after they returned to their hotel. The mother described her daughter as “distraught” and praised two young women who encouraged them to revisit Tesco to review the CCTV footage.
“He has shown no moral compass or remorse. He’s only sorry he was caught. He was clearly aware of the age of his victim and put her through the court process that most adults find hard to deal with. We had to listen to his defence suggest that it was a touch you might experience on a busy train. This was not a busy train, this was a wide pavement and he had followed us to continue his attack.”
Arrest and Trail of Predatory Behaviour
Shahzad was arrested at his home on 27 September 2023. Police seized clothing that matched what he was wearing in the CCTV footage. Just two days after the Tesco incident, further videos revealed him filming women on the street without consent. Police described this as “predatory behaviour.”
Sentence: Suspended Jail, Community Work & Sex Offender Registration
At Inner London Crown Court, Shahzad received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Police Praise Victim’s Bravery
Detective Constable Sarah Elsom of City of London Police applauded the teenager’s courage:
“Supporting the victim and her family has been at the forefront of our minds since we started investigating. Her courage throughout this two-year process has been inspirational. This was a deplorable crime carried out by someone who held a position of trust as a Metropolitan Police Special Constable. Shahzad had ample opportunity to admit guilt but instead chose to put his victim through court. Evidence from his phone shows this was not an isolated incident; his predatory behaviour continued days later. Thanks to the bravery of his victim, justice has been served.”
She added a message for other survivors:
“You will be believed and supported by dedicated officers throughout the criminal justice system.”
