Ali Tok, found guilty of sexual assault. Pic: Met Police
A Hither Green kebab shop worker has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl while she waited for an order.
The schoolgirl went into the Leahurst Road shop on February 7, where Ali Tok was serving behind the counter.
Tok, 50, from Allwood Close in Sydenham, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday for sexually touching a child under 13 on February 7.
The jury heard how Tok invited the young customer to sit at the back of the shop while she waited for her food.
According to the court, Tok then told the young girl that he loved her, before touching her inappropriately, leaving her “scared and in tears.”
The crime was reported as soon as the child returned home to her mother. Tok was arrested at the Hither Green shop shortly after.
In a police interview, the shop worker claimed that his victim had become distressed after dropping her food and that his face had “brushed against hers” as he helped her pick it up. He denied sexual assault, declaring that he had merely patted the girl on the back comfortingly.
Detective Inspector Jim Pryde, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: “The young victim has been extremely brave and there is no doubt this assault has rocked her confidence and trust in people.
“With the support of specially trained officers, she has seen her attacker convicted and this sends out a strong a message to anyone who sexually abuses children that they will be pursued and brought to justice.”
Tok will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on November 29.
