A 19-year-old student who posed as a female model agent to lure schoolgirls into webcam strip shows has walked free from jail.
Mohammed Sarang, from Pembroke Road, Wembley, hacked a friend’s Facebook to befriend several young girls under the name of ‘Nicola Hay’, telling them he could find them modelling jobs.
He then got them to ‘audition’ over webcam, asking them to undress and perform sexual acts.
The predator was exposed when when the mother of one of his victims became concerned when she discovered an online conversation and alerted Greater Manchester police.
Detective Inspector Joanne Clawson, said: “We worked extremely closely with The Met throughout their investigation and I am pleased that we were able to identify and put a stop to the actions of Mohammed Sarang, who used the internet to groom young children from Wigan and other areas within the UK.
“As part of the investigation and alongside partner agencies, we visited more than 60 children in Wigan who had come into contact with Sarang, many of whom befriended him simply because their friends had.
“All of the children and their families received safeguarding advice during these visits, as our top priority is ensuring the on-going safeguarding of vulnerable people.
“This is a tactic that is used by sex offenders online who seek to cast their net as widely as possible and so I would encourage parents to be vigilant and intrusive about their child’s activities online.
“With them holding the internet in the palm of their hands it is important to scrutinise who they are ‘friends’ with on social media sites and alert us to any concerns they have.”
Sarang pleaded guilty to inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent photographs of a child under 16 and causing or inciting child pornography at Harrow Crown Court.
He was handed a two-year suspended sentence, a two-year supervision order, a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was ordered to attend a 60-day training programme.
Image courtesy of Mofetos, with thanks.
