Suhail Mogra

Suhail Mogra, a 25-year-old man from Blackburn, Lancashire, was sentenced to 34 months in prison at Preston Crown Court on 1 July 2021 for engaging in sexualised online communications with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old child. The case arose from a proactive police operation targeting paedophiles who use internet chat rooms and messaging apps to exploit children sexually.

The incident began in March 2020 when Mogra initiated a conversation on the Kik messenger app with what he thought was a young girl. During the exchange, he quickly escalated the discussion to sexual topics, asking if she would like to meet him in a hotel room and perform sex acts on him. The conversation then shifted to WhatsApp, where further explicit details were discussed. Unbeknownst to Mogra, the 'girl' was in fact an undercover police officer participating in the operation led by Lancashire Police.

In April 2020, following the suspicious online activity, Lancashire Police executed a warrant at Mogra's address on Whitewell Place in Blackburn. Officers seized his mobile phone and other electronic devices, which provided evidence of the communications. Mogra was arrested and later charged with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. At Preston Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the charge, leading to his sentencing.

• Key timeline: Conversations started in March 2020; arrest in April 2020; sentencing on 1 July 2021.
• Offence details: Mogra believed he was grooming a 13-year-old for sexual exploitation via online platforms.

Detective Sergeant Peter Denson of Lancashire Police commented on the case, stating: 'Mogra believed he was talking to a 13-year-old girl online when he suggested they meet in a hotel and that the child perform sexual acts on him. On this occasion the person he was speaking to was a police officer and Mogra was arrested and subsequently brought before the courts.' DS Denson further expressed satisfaction with the sentence, hoping it would prompt Mogra to reflect on his actions and serve as a deterrent. He emphasised Lancashire Police's commitment to tackling child abuse and exploitation robustly.

The case highlights the effectiveness of undercover operations in identifying and apprehending individuals intent on child sexual exploitation. Lancashire Police, responsible for policing the region including Blackburn, continue to prioritise such investigations to protect vulnerable children online.