A Watford man has been jailed for more than 11 years after being found guilty of sexual offences, including rape, against children.

Mohammed Sahinur was arrested by Herts Police in June 2022 following an operation to catch people targeting vulnerable children via social media.

The 29-year-old had been targeting girls as young as 11 since 2021, encouraging them to send sexual photos of themselves and then threatening them if they refused.

Watford Observer: Mohammed Sahinur, from Watford, has been jailed for more than 11 years.Mohammed Sahinur, from Watford, has been jailed for more than 11 years. (Image: Herts Police)

Sahinur was initially arrested on suspicion of sexual communication with a child and all of his electronic devices were seized. Further victims were then identified, and more offences revealed.

He was then charged with 15 crimes, including rape of a child under 13, sexual communication with a child, eight offences of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, four offences of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and sexual assault of a child under 13.

Sahinur was remanded into custody and appeared at St Albans Crown Court for trial between 30 January 2023 and 3 February 2023. He was subsequently found guilty of all offences.

On Friday, November 3, he appeared back at St Albans Crown Court for sentencing, where he was jailed for 11 years and six months.

Detective Sergeant Jim Miller from the Child Online Safeguarding Team said: “Not only did Sahinur groom vulnerable young girls via social media, he also met up with one victim so he could physically abuse her as well.

“To make sure these young girls continued to supply him with indecent images he threatened them, telling them he would tell other family members or share the images further.

“This behaviour has had a very detrimental impact on the mental wellbeing being of these young girls.”

DS Miller continued: “We will continue to track down perpetrators like Sahinur and would encourage anyone who has been a victim of similar behaviour to get in touch. We can help you and you will be fully supported by specially trained officers.”  

Information about similar crimes can be reported via Herts Police’s website or by calling non-emergency number 101.