An Indian student has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in the United Kingdom for grooming and sexually exploiting more than 70 girls online, including children as young as 10, after posing as a teenage boy on social media and gaming platforms, BBC reported.
Bilal Kazi was sentenced at Chester Crown Court yesterday after admitting 33 child sex offences against 19 victims, the CPS said.
Kazi used the online identity “Reece”, pretending to be a 14-year-old British boy to gain the trust of girls aged between 10 and 17. He then manipulated them into sharing explicit photographs and videos before threatening to circulate the material if they refused further demands.
He preyed on youngsters on various apps and sites, including Snapchat, Roblox, Wizz and Wink. Police uncovered 70 victims from 28 police force areas but police say they think as many as 180 girls may have been targeted.
“”You are a very dangerous person.” Judge Stephen Everett said to Kazi at the sentencing.
Martin McRobb, a specialist prosecutor at the CPS, said Kazi had shown “absolute ruthlessness” in how he exploited children.
Kazi was also given a longer duration of eight years for the licence and some restrictions on his subsequent activities.
