A Watford man has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against a young girl, involving blackmail and exploitation. Mohammed Shamim Sahinur, 28, of Bucknells Close, targeted a 12-year-old victim on social media, coercing her into providing explicit photos and videos under threat of distribution to her family and friends.
The abuse escalated between September 30, 2021, and January 10, 2022, during which Sahinur made 1,677 calls and sent thousands of texts to the girl, who was 13 by the end of the period. He persuaded her to meet in Watford town centre, where he took her to a public toilet block and committed various sex acts, including rape. Sahinur was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of rape, sexual communication with a child, seven counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act.
Due to Sahinur's significant developmental and learning disorders, and potential autism, he did not attend his trial. At sentencing on November 3, 2023, Judge Caroline Wigin presented the case facts directly to him. She stated: "This is all about a little girl who was 12 years old at the start of your offending and 13 by its conclusion. You were much older than her and knew she was 12 right from the start." The judge highlighted the immense pressure he exerted, noting: "The pressure you put on this young girl was immense." She described the catastrophic impact on the victim, who now lives in constant anxiety and fear, unable to discuss the trauma.
Accounting for his mental health difficulties, Judge Wigin reduced the sentence from 13 years to 11 and a half years' custody for the rape, with concurrent terms for other charges, plus a five-year extended licence period. Additional measures include a 16-and-a-half-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders Register, and a lifelong restraining order barring contact with the victim. The judge assessed Sahinur as posing a high risk of serious harm to children, stating: "You targeted her, blackmailed her and took steps to prevent her reporting your contact because of her fear that you would send these images to other people."
This case was reported by My Local News on November 3, 2023, underscoring the severe consequences of online grooming and blackmail in child sexual exploitation.