Mohamed Patel

Mohamed Patel, aged 61 from Stoke Newington Road in Hackney, London, engaged in online grooming activities targeting a 12-year-old girl between March and August 2020. Using an online chatroom, Patel initiated conversations with the girl, inquiring about her clothing preferences and escalating to explicit sexual comments. His actions culminated in an attempt to meet the child in person, demonstrating clear intent to commit child sex offences.

Patel's predatory behaviour was thwarted when he arrived at the arranged meeting location on 29 August 2020, where Metropolitan Police officers were waiting instead of the victim. He was arrested on the spot following a complex investigation by the Met Police. Charged on 30 May 2025 with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, Patel initially failed to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 27 June 2025, leading to him being circulated as wanted.

Patel evaded capture for several months until 19 December 2025, when the Met's Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology identified him during a deployment on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, Hackney. Officers responded swiftly to the alert, arresting him on suspicion of the offences. He pleaded guilty to both charges at Thames Magistrates’ Court on 20 December 2025.

On 2 February 2026, Patel appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. This case underscores the effectiveness of LFR in locating dangerous individuals, as highlighted by Lindsey Chiswick, the Met’s lead for facial recognition: “The Met is committed to making London safer, using technology to identify offenders that pose a significant risk to our communities. This is a prime example of why the technology is vital. Without it, Patel could have continued to evade police and cause further harm to other victims.”

The Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for the investigation and arrest, continues to deploy LFR across London's crime hotspots. Since the beginning of 2024, the technology has helped remove over 1,700 offenders from the streets, including those wanted for serious sexual offences like rape. Patel's case, reported via the official Met Police news service, exemplifies how such tools deliver justice and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.