A MAN has appeared at magistrates' court in Bradford charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl.

Fahad Goheer, 22, is alleged to have contacted the Bradford girl over a period of two months through a social media app called Periscope before meeting her in the city and taking her to the Ibis hotel in Prince Court, off Canal Road, Bradford.

He was arrested in Rochdale on January 25 and brought to a police station in Bradford for questioning. He was charged with the offence on January 26.

Appearing in the dock at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court today flanked by two prison officers and wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey jogging pants, Goheer, who was of tidy appearance with a short beard and moustache, spoke only to give his name, age and address.

He did not enter any plea in relation to the charge.

Prosecutor Nusrat Mahmood told magistrates that the charge was serious and carried a potential sentence of up to 19 years in custody.

Mrs Mahmood said the app the defendant and girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, allegedly used allowed people to carry out conversations without releasing details of one another until both consented.

The allegation is that Goheer, of Fenton Street, Rochdale, had been conversing for about two months with the girl on Periscope and came over to Bradford with the intention of raping her on the evening of January 21.

It is alleged he threatened the girl with harm if she did not meet him. Goheer is also alleged to have booked a room at the Ibis budget hotel with his own credit card and in his own name.

He is also said to have threatened the girl if she did not give the hotel receptionist a false date of birth, the court was told.

Mr Mahmood asked magistrates to remand Goheer in custody until his next court appearance.

Goheer's solicitor Imran Khan made an application for his client to be granted bail with conditions.

Chairman of the magistrates' bench Peter McDermott refused Mr Khan's application for bail.

Goheer was remanded in custody to appear before Bradford Crown Court on February 24.

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