CHRISTOPHER ZAHRA FROM COTTAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN PRESTON

In February 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Christopher Zahra, a 34-year-old resident of Greenside, Cottam, Preston, who was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. Zahra, a prizewinning bartender, faced serious legal repercussions after his actions came to light, leading to his placement on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years.

His arrest took place at his place of employment, the Forum in Preston, where authorities apprehended him at approximately 12:26 pm on May 10, 2019. The arrest was prompted by the discovery of a distinctive skull and crossbones tattoo, which was visible in one of the explicit images he had sent to an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, identified as 'Sophie.' In reality, 'Sophie' was an undercover police officer monitoring online activity.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Zahra had used two different aliases on the Kik Messenger platform, a notorious social media site often associated with illicit activity. His online interactions raised suspicion due to his apparent sexual interest in minors, which was further confirmed when he expressed concern about the child's age, remarking that it 'could be dangerous.'

Following this, Zahra's communications quickly took a sexual turn. He sent a lewd image to 'Sophie' and subsequently apologized, claiming that the image was meant for someone else. Throughout their exchanges, Zahra made explicit comments, stating he was 'drunk and horny' and expressed a desire to share videos and pictures, despite acknowledging the girl’s young age.

Most alarmingly, Zahra sent an incriminating video of himself performing a sexual act, in which his distinctive skull and crossbones tattoo was clearly visible. Despite his apologies, he continued to send further images, including a naked photograph of himself lying on a bed, and asked the girl to send him a picture in return.

Following his arrest, Zahra was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between February 23 and March 7, 2019. His court appearance at Preston’s Sessions House Court saw him admit to these charges.

Judge Philip Parry sentenced Zahra to a two-year community order, which includes mandatory attendance at the Horizon sex offender’s programme. Additionally, the court imposed a five-year sexual harm prevention order, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. The judge stated, “This wasn’t a one-off communication; it was persistent, prolonged, and involved the sending of still and moving images. It’s very difficult to predict how far this communication would have gone. It is an attempt because the person was not a child, but the courts’ experience of offending of this kind is that they often lead to further serious sexual offending involving children.”

Judge Parry also highlighted the potential danger posed by such behavior, noting that individuals who engage in these online interactions often go on to commit more serious offenses. He remarked, “Very often, people appear where you are now stood, having genuinely communicated with children, and the harm caused in that situation is heightened.” The court also criticized Zahra for his apparent awareness of the risks associated with social media, suggesting that a brief investigation into the platform’s typical use would have alerted him to the dangers involved. Overall, the case underscores the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.