A court was shown a felt tip drawing by the victim of predatory paedophile to illustrate the nightmares she has suffered since being snatched from the street.

Imran Khan, of Accrington, was jailed for life after grabbing the six-year-old girl up from a Burnley street and later dumped her in a wheelie bin.

Imran Khan, 34, of Pendle Street, stood emotionless in the dock as he was told he would serve a minimum of six years and seven months before being considered for parole.

The court was told that Khan, who had previously been convicted for the rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2009, ‘cruised the streets’ on March 26 ‘looking for an opportunity’.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Khan had completed an intensive sexual offenders treatment programme just days before coming across his victim playing on her bike.

The court heard that Khan bundled the victim into the boot of his car in broad daylight before driving four miles to an ‘isolated’ location and exposing himself to her and inciting her to commit a sexual act.

The victim told police officers how Khan had dumped her in a wheelie bin after the ‘terrifying’ ordeal. She was found shortly afterwards wandering the streets ‘in a distressed state’ by children of a similar age, who took her to their parent’s house.

The alarm was then raised and police established through examination of CCTV that she had been snatched by Khan, who was arrested on March 28 and charged.

The court was told how the victim has suffered recurring nightmares since the incident and she produced a felt tip pen drawing for the court to illustrate her nightmares.

Jeremy Lasker, defending said: “He accepts that what he did was motivated by sex, not every defendant is prepared to do that. He also admitted doing several laps of the area hoping for an opportunity to arise.”

Khan pleaded guilty to kidnap, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence and breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentence, Detective Inspector Jim Elston said: “I am pleased with today’s result following the horrendous ordeal that this young girl had to endure which has left a lasting effect on her and her family.

“I must commend the courage and resilience that the victim has shown, particularly given her age.

“I hope that now Khan is behind bars that the family are able to start moving forward with their lives and the victim is able to try and enjoy a normal, happy childhood which she fully deserves, despite this trauma.”

Judge: 'A planned and predatory act to satisfy perverted sexual desires'

A judge has told a child snatcher that he will serve a ‘long time’ in prison before being considered for parole.

Judge Michael Newell told Imran Khan that he posed a ‘significant risk’ to the public after he admitted abducting and exposing himself to a six year old girl.

Sentencing Khan to life imprisonment Judge Newell said that he had caused damage and hurt to the victim, family and wider community that was ‘probably permanent’.

Judge Newell said: “You cruised and crisscrossed the streets for 10 minutes and then came across the victim.

“You manhandled her into the boot of your car and took her a short distance out into the county.”

The judge said that after attempting to incite the girl to commit a sex act he drove off and and tipped her head first into a wheelie bin, but not before making threatening remarks to her.

The court was told that Khan had 15 past convictions for 56 offences, which varied from dishonesty, handling of stolen goods and the supply and control of class A drugs.

The most recent past offence was on in 2009 when Khan abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl.

Judge Newell said: “When you were released in 2013 there was hope for your future, you completed a sex offender treatment programme and there feedback was positive.

“But just days or weeks after finishing that course you went on to commit this offence. It was a planned and predatory act to satisfy your perverted sexual desires.”

In summing up Judge Newell said the Khan’s actions had had a wider damaging affect on the community.

He said: “In the last seven years on two occasions you have taken a child from the streets of East Lancashire for your own perverted sexual desires, one aged 12 the other aged six, one was raped the other released, both traumatised.

“You have caused possibly permanent damage, your actions don’t just damage young lives and families, your crimes have a wider effect upon the community. Every parent wants their child to be able to walk to school, play on their bike without fear that this will happen, your actions fracture that trust.”