A man has been sentenced to prison for making threats of rape against a teenage girl and inciting her to engage in self-harm.

Shabaz Khokar, 24, a resident of London, communicated his threats to the victim in Staffordshire through social media, even sharing images of train tickets he had purchased for a journey to her location. He was apprehended at a railway station in the region in August after authorities were notified.

Following his release on conditional bail, Khokar sent additional messages to the victim, pressuring her to self-harm and to abandon her case against him. This led to his subsequent arrest and charges being filed against him.

Khokar, who lives on Eastney Street in Greenwich, received a sentence of two years and five months at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple offenses.

These charges included making communications that threatened death or serious injury, encouraging or facilitating serious self-harm in another individual, and performing an act intended to obstruct the course of justice.

Additionally, Khokar was issued an indefinite restraining order regarding the victim as part of his sentencing.

Staffordshire Police stated that this case represents the first sentencing under section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 for the police force.

This legislation introduced several new offenses, which are set to become effective in January 2024 and include: