Asad Ullah

A man from Woking has been imprisoned for child sex offences after attempting to groom what he thought were underage girls online. Asad Ullah, aged 28 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the charges at Guildford Crown Court on 15 June 2022.

The offences came to light when Ullah began communicating in a sexually explicit manner with profiles he believed belonged to young girls. Unbeknownst to him, these were adult members of the public who had set up the decoy profiles to expose potential paedophiles operating online. Ullah arranged to meet one of the supposed girls on 10 November 2021 at Woking Leisure Centre, where he was promptly arrested by Surrey Police officers upon arrival.

Following his arrest, Ullah was charged in January 2022 and remanded in custody pending sentencing. The court heard details of his predatory behaviour, which posed a significant threat to children. Investigating Officer Dave Evans from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team commented: “Ullah displayed dangerous, predatory behaviour towards young girls and it is a relief that he is in prison where he can’t continue to pose a threat to children.” Evans also urged the public to report suspicions to police rather than taking matters into their own hands, emphasising the importance of proper investigations to safeguard judicial processes.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Ullah received a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his activities and protect the public. He has also been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely. This case, reported by Surrey Police, highlights the role of community vigilance in identifying and apprehending online predators, ensuring they face justice through legal channels.