Man jailed after following and blowing kisses at a 13-year-old girl in a landmark stalking case

Conviction thought to be the first of its kind as prosecutors did not have to prove harassment happened on multiple occasions

Hekmat, 43, followed the teenager in his car (Metropolitan Police)

A 43-year-old man who followed and blew kisses at a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for stalking.

Bahram Hekmat's conviction is thought to be the first of its kind, since the crime took place in a single 15-minute period.

Prosecutors have previously had to prove stalking happened on multiple occasions or was part of a pattern of behaviour in order to get a conviction.

After a four-day trial, Hekmat of Enfield, north London was found guilty of stalking involving serious alarm or distress by Wood Green Crown Court. He was jailed for nine months.

His victim was waiting at a bus stop in Enfield, when he pulled up in a car and started blowing kisses at her.

She then boarded a bus, but Hekmat followed. He then parked at a bus stop on Green Street when the 13-year-old got off.

He continued blowing kisses at her before threatening that he would continue to follow her if she did not return his advances, London's Metropolitan police said. He sped off only after the teenager told another person that he was harassing her.

After he mother called the police, investigators were able to identify Hekmat using his Hekmat by his car registration, which was caught on the bus's CCTV.

Along with his prison sentence, he was also handed a 12-month supervision order and an indefinite restraining order that prevents him returning to the area of the crime.

The court case is likely to be used as a guide in future cases, Scotland Yard said.

Although stalking was made a specific criminal offence in 2012, is a difficult crime to prosecute because the term is not legally defined.

Victims are often let down by inconsistent services and poor understanding in the criminal justice system, with “worrying failing at every stage”, according to a recent report by the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Hekmat's sentence "reflected "the seriousness of the offence committed," said Detective Constable Darren Barlow, who called it "a disgusting act of public indecency which has left a young girl shaken and very upset."

He added: "The effects of Hekmat’s behaviour continue to have a detrimental impact on the victim who at the time of the offence was just 13 years old."

Siwan Hayward, Transport for London’s Head of Transport Policing, added: “Alongside the police we will eradicate unwanted sexual behaviour from public transport in London. This case sends a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and that offenders will be caught and brought to justice.”