A 23 year old Rochdale man has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after admitting a series of sexual offences against children.
Omar Saif was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court and will also serve an extended licence period of five years once he is released.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, six counts of sexual communication with a child, two counts of inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity, blackmail and making indecent images of a child. The images included 44 Category A, six Category B and 105 Category C files.
Saif was arrested in September 2023 after the parent of a 14 year old girl reported that he had lured her to a secluded area near an allotment in Rochdale and sexually assaulted her. He has remained in custody since that time.
The case was investigated by Greater Manchester Police’s Rochdale Complex Safeguarding Team, which focuses on cases involving the exploitation of children.
Officers examined Saif’s mobile phones and uncovered what they described as a significant volume of messages with girls aged between 13 and 17. Police said much of the communication was sexual in nature. He attempted to arrange meetings at hotels, encouraged girls to remove boys from their friends lists and asked them to share their location. He also lied about his age, claiming to be younger than he was.
Police said he coerced some of the girls into sending indecent images of themselves despite knowing they were under 16.
In total, officers and partner agencies contacted 105 girls across the country. Some did not wish to take part in the court process. Where documentary evidence confirmed their age at the time of the offences, police were able to proceed without requiring them to provide statements or attend court.
Detective Constable Chris Davies said, “This is a deeply concerning example of how child sexual abusers use online methods to target large numbers of underage victims, building their trust to ultimately control them for their own sexual gratification.
“In this case, Saif’s offending also spanned into the offline world, meeting up with and abusing one victim in person.
“Saif made several attempts to hide his devices from officers when arrested, demonstrating he knew what he was doing was wrong and we would prove it if we were to get hold of them.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the bravery of all girls and parents in speaking with us or supporting the case, as we understand a phone call or knock at the door from the police in these circumstances would be unexpected and sometimes uncomfortable.
“A dangerous predator is now in prison and unable to harm anyone else, which I hope will provide those impacted a sense of relief and justice. We remain steadfast in pursuing those who seek to target and exploit children.”
Support is available for anyone affected by sexual abuse. Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester can be contacted on 0161 276 6515. Greater Manchester Rape Crisis offers confidential support for women over 18 on 0161 273 4500. We Are Survivors provides specialist support for male victims on 0161 236 2182.
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