Walid Said, a UK-born Somali, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
A man who ran a massive online blackmail operation targeting young Muslim men and teenagers has been jailed for 16 years after a court heard he used more than 100 fake social media accounts to obtain intimate images and sexually exploit victims.Waleed Saeed, 31, a UK-born man of Somali origin, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of 17 offences, including rape, attempted rape, blackmail and taking indecent photographs of children, the BBC reported.The court heard that Saeed spent years creating fake identities via social media and dating platforms, using them to contact young people across the UK. After gaining their trust, he convinced the victims to send intimate photos and videos before threatening to reveal the material to family members and friends.Prosecutors said many of those targeted were Muslim youth and teenagers who feared the consequences of their sexuality becoming known within their families or communities.In some cases, Saeed demanded money to keep the photos private. When victims were unable to meet his demands, he used the threat of disclosure to maintain control over them and, on occasion, arranged in-person meetings that led to the commission of sexual crimes.
The case came to light after an 18-year-old reported being raped in a London park in August 2024. Investigators later uncovered a broader pattern of crimes spanning several years.Police tracked Saeed through evidence found during the investigation and confiscated mobile phones containing intimate images linked to several victims, including children.Earlier this year, Saeed admitted several offences, including charges related to blackmail and taking indecent photographs of a child.
The jury later convicted him of additional charges, including rape, attempted rape and further racketeering crimes.Sentencing him, Judge Green said Saeed deliberately exploited victims’ fears of being exposed to danger.The judge told him: “You took advantage of the fact that cultural issues made them particularly vulnerable to exposure.”The Metropolitan Police believe the scale of the crime may be much greater than the cases already before court. Investigators are now examining about 100 additional potential victims linked to Saeed’s activities.
