Hilmi Kisacik

Hilmi Kisacik, a 44-year-old man from Ely, Cambridgeshire, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for sexual offences involving online communication with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. The case came to light following an investigation prompted by an online child activist group, which exposed Kisacik's inappropriate interactions on Facebook Messenger.

Between 3 March and 21 April 2024, Kisacik engaged in conversations with a decoy profile set up by the activist group, who posed as a 14-year-old girl. Despite being explicitly informed of the decoy's age, Kisacik sent inappropriate photographs of himself and others, encouraged the decoy to touch herself in a sexual manner, and requested explicit images from her. These actions led to charges of two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.

On 26 April 2024, members of the online child activist group confronted Kisacik at his home in Ely and alerted Cambridgeshire Constabulary, resulting in his immediate arrest. Following a pre-trial hearing in July 2024, Kisacik was released on court bail. However, he failed to attend a subsequent hearing in August 2024, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant. Kisacik also did not appear for his trial, leading to the proceedings continuing in his absence.

On 22 November 2024, at Cambridge Crown Court, Kisacik was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment in absentia. A manhunt has since been launched by Cambridgeshire Constabulary to apprehend him, as he remains at large. The court emphasised the severity of the offences, highlighting the predatory nature of Kisacik's online behaviour towards a minor.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has urged the public to come forward with any information on Kisacik's whereabouts, describing him as a resident of Fore Hill, Ely. The force has stated that protecting children from online sexual exploitation is a priority, and this case underscores the role of community vigilance in such investigations. Source: The Hunts Post, 27 November 2024.