Overview of the Case
A man who created over 100 fake social media profiles to blackmail and sexually assault young Muslim men has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Waleed Saeed, a British-born Muslim of Somali heritage, was convicted in what a Metropolitan Police officer described as the largest "sexploitation" case he has encountered.
Snaresbrook Crown Court in London heard that the 31-year-old used a network of fabricated Snapchat, Instagram, and Grindr profiles to solicit intimate images from Muslim men and teenagers as young as 15, many of whom privately identified as gay or bisexual.
He then threatened to "out" these individuals to their friends and family if they did not comply with his demands.
Modus Operandi and Offences
When victims were unable to pay the demanded ransom, Saeed attempted to coerce them into in-person meetings where he sexually assaulted them.
Saeed was found guilty of 17 offences, including rape, blackmail, and making indecent images of children.
In March, he pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to four victims, which included two counts of threatening to share intimate images, two counts of blackmail, and two counts of making indecent images of a child.
A jury subsequently convicted him of eight additional charges, including rape, attempted rape, and blackmail.
The BBC has learned that the Metropolitan Police is investigating approximately 100 more potential victims.
Police Investigation and Appeal
Detective Constable Peter Collington, who led the investigation, made a direct appeal to other victims.
I am making a direct appeal to other victim-survivors who may not have had the confidence to come forward. We want to treat you with compassion, with sensitivity and with absolute confidentiality. What has been done to you is wrong, and we will do everything in our power to support you.
Saeed's offences, dating back to 2018, were uncovered in August 2024 following a report of a rape in a London park.
The 18-year-old victim informed police that he had exchanged sexual images with someone he believed to be a transgender woman, who was in fact Saeed.
Shortly after, the victim received threatening messages from another account controlled by Saeed, revealing his true identity and demanding payment to avoid the release of the images.
When the victim was unable to pay, Saeed coerced him into meeting in a London park late at night on three occasions, where he sexually assaulted and raped him while wearing a face covering to conceal his identity.
Forensic evidence from the victim's phone led to Saeed's arrest and the seizure of two mobile phones containing further intimate images of victims, some believed to be children.
Use of Fake Profiles and Targeting
Saeed used usernames such as "Trans Girl Leah", "amzyyyy09", and "ComeDeal" to target victims in London and across the UK.
Police uncovered reports dating back to 2018, revealing a "sinister pattern of offending."
Sentencing Remarks and Victim Impact
During sentencing, Judge HHJ Greene addressed Saeed directly:
You, yourself, are gay and like some of your victims, deeply troubled by what you perceive as your culture's negative views of homosexuality. Your victims were all young men of similar age, teenagers. You took advantage of the fact that cultural issues made them particularly vulnerable to the threat of exposure.
The court heard from a victim who was a university student and had shared sexual videos and pictures with Saeed but felt unable to confide in family due to their "strict culture."
A victim impact statement read in court said:
I don't go home much because I am constantly afraid they'll find out. They would be very ashamed of me and not want to talk to me any more.
The statement also described the victim's need for anti-anxiety medication.
Whenever I hear the Snapchat notification I feel scared and have to check it straight away, the first thing I think is it could be a picture or video of me he could've posted.
Ongoing Appeals and Support
Detectives are appealing for other victims or those aware of victims to come forward.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated:
Please be assured that victims will have their identity protected and privacy completely respected. Victims will not be required to share details of their experiences to their family members or friends if they do not wish to. Alternatively, for anyone looking for support that is independent from the police, you can contact Galop, the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity.
