BBC journalist Lucy Manning’s harrowing experience reveals the systemic failures in handling sexual harassment cases. In October 2022, she received a series of obscene phone calls from a stranger who masturbated while calling out her name. Determined to seek justice, Manning recorded the five-minute call and reported it to the police.
The investigation was plagued with delays and inefficiencies from the start. The Metropolitan Police initially struggled to trace the withheld number, and the case was eventually transferred to Lancashire Police. Despite identifying a suspect, law enforcement showed a disturbing lack of urgency in pursuing the case.
Throughout the investigation, Manning had to persistently follow up and push for action. The suspect was initially not arrested, and police claimed there was “no necessity to arrest” him. When he was finally brought in, he denied making the calls, claiming he had lost his phone. The police’s initial response was to close the investigation with no further action.
Manning’s determination led her to invoke the Victims’ Right to Review, which forced the police to reconsider their decision. Eventually, new phone evidence confirmed the suspect had indeed made the calls using a different SIM card. The calls were traced to a phone mast near the suspect’s location.
In a shocking twist, Manning discovered that the suspect, Amjad Khan from Blackburn, had been previously convicted in 2015 for making 15,000 similar calls to random numbers. This historical conviction raised serious questions about why he was allowed to continue such behavior.
The legal process was equally frustrating. Khan’s court appearances were marked by delays and inefficiencies. During his trial, he continued to deny making the calls, claiming someone else must have used his phone. However, mobile phone data and the recorded call provided clear evidence of his guilt.
In November 2024, Khan was found guilty of sending an offensive, indecent, and threatening message. Both the Metropolitan Police and Lancashire Police acknowledged their inadequate handling of the case, with the Met admitting their response “clearly fell short.”
Manning’s experience highlights broader systemic issues in how sexual harassment cases are handled. She notes that many women she’s interviewed are discouraged from reporting crimes due to the brutal and inefficient process. Despite the challenges, Manning remained committed to pursuing justice.
Her story underscores a critical problem: the burden of obtaining justice often falls on the victim. The lengthy, complex process of reporting and prosecuting sexual harassment cases can be deeply traumatizing and discouraging.
“Getting justice shouldn’t be this hard and getting justice shouldn’t be the victim’s struggle,” Manning concludes, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic reform in handling sexual harassment cases.
