June 2013

Curry king jailed for sex with schoolgirl

One of Northern Irelands top chefs has been jailed for indecently assaulting a teenage girl who worked at his family’s Indian restaurant.

Shamed Kalam Abdul, 40, who has been hailed by a leading food critic as “Ireland’s most talented curry chef”, was caged for 16 months for nine cases of indecent assault which took place when Abdul was 24 and his victim just 14.

Appearing at Downpatrick Crown Court last Monday, Abdul, who has an address at East Street Court in Newtownards and who was named as part owner of the Ganges restaurant in Holywood Co Down, pleaded guilty to the assaults which occurred between July 1997 and July 1999.

Smartly dressed Abdul, who is a qualified crisis counsellor and worked for a suicide helpline, sat with his head bowed in the dock during proceedings.

Abdul was ordered to sign the sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was also ordered to complete a three probation period after his release.

Abdul has been banned from working with children indefinitely