Waleed Saeed Jailed for 16 Years for Blackmail and Sexual Assault of Muslim Men

Waleed Saeed, who used over 100 fake social media profiles to exploit young Muslim men, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious offenses.

Waleed Saeed, a British man of Somali descent, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of creating more than 100 fake social media profiles to blackmail and sexually assault young Muslim men. This case has been described by a Metropolitan Police officer as the most significant 'sexploitation' case he has encountered.

The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, where the court learned that the 31-year-old targeted Muslim men and teenagers as young as 15, many of whom privately identified as gay or bisexual. Saeed manipulated these individuals by soliciting intimate images, subsequently threatening to reveal their identities to friends and family if they did not comply with his demands.

In instances where victims were unable to pay his ransom, Saeed coerced them into meeting in person, where he would then sexually assault them. He was convicted of 17 offenses, which include charges of rape, blackmail, and the creation of indecent images of children.

In March, Saeed pleaded guilty to nine charges involving four victims, which included two counts related to the threat of sharing intimate images, two counts of blackmail, and two counts of producing indecent images of a child. Following this, a jury found him guilty of an additional eight charges, including rape and attempted rape.

The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating approximately 100 more potential victims. Detective Constable Peter Collington, who led the investigation, has publicly appealed to additional victims who may not have felt confident enough to come forward. He assured them that they would be treated with compassion, sensitivity, and confidentiality, emphasizing that the abuse they experienced was wrong and that support would be available.

Saeed's criminal activities began in 2018 and came to light in August 2024 when an 18-year-old reported being raped in a London park. The victim had believed he was communicating with a transgender woman but later discovered that Saeed was posing under a false identity. After the victim shared intimate images, he received threats from another account controlled by Saeed, demanding payment to prevent the release of the images.

When the victim could not pay, Saeed coerced him into meeting in a London park late at night on three occasions, where he sexually assaulted and raped him while covering his face to conceal his identity. Forensic evidence obtained from the victim's phone led to Saeed's arrest, during which police seized two mobile phones containing further intimate images of victims, including some believed to be children.

Saeed employed various deceptive usernames, including 'Trans Girl Leah', 'amzyyyy09', and 'ComeDeal', to target victims across London and the wider UK. The police uncovered a series of incidents dating back to 2018, revealing a troubling pattern of exploitation.

During the sentencing, Judge HHJ Greene addressed Saeed, noting that he is gay and, like many of his victims, struggled with cultural attitudes towards homosexuality. The judge remarked that Saeed took advantage of the vulnerability of his victims, who were mostly young men in similar situations. Saeed's adeptness at catfishing and exploiting these individuals was highlighted as particularly alarming.

The court heard a victim impact statement from a university student who had shared intimate videos and pictures with Saeed. He expressed his fear of family discovery due to strict cultural norms, stating, '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 anymore.' This individual also mentioned the psychological toll of the abuse, including the need for anti-anxiety medication and a heightened sense of fear whenever he received notifications from Snapchat.

The Metropolitan Police are urging any additional victims or individuals who may know of others affected to come forward, assuring them that their identities will be protected and their privacy respected. They stated that victims would not be required to disclose their experiences to family or friends if they choose not to do so. For those seeking independent support, they can contact Galop, the UK's charity for LGBT+ individuals experiencing abuse.