Former coach jailed again for indecent assault

A former boarding school sports coach who had been convicted of sexually abusing female students has been sent back to jail for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old.

Ajaz Karim, 70, was jailed for 21 months on Friday at Hove Crown Court after a jury heard he assaulted the woman, who is now in her 40s, after a hockey lesson.

Karim, of Broadlove Lane, Greater London, was previously convicted of nine charges of indecent assault at Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex, in 2018 and was jailed for 10 years, before being freed on licence in April 2023.

On Friday, Judge Jeremy Gold KC said: "You were her hockey teacher and she idolised you for your sporting ability."

Karim was charged with the new offence in December 2023 and was found guilty in November.

However, a second similar count of abusing the same girl was left on file.

After he was released on licence, Karim denied the new allegations, forcing the victim to give evidence in court.

Karim was one of four teachers charged with historic sex abuse after former Christ's Hospital pupils contacted police in 2016.

He is a registered sex offender and barred from working with young people or vulnerable adults.

Karim will serve at least half of his 21-month sentence in custody.

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