MOHAMMED KEERPAH SENTENCED IN GRAYS FOR SEXUAL GROOMING AND CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In June 2019, a disturbing case involving a young man from Grays, Mohammed Keerpah, came to light, highlighting the dangers of online grooming and exploitation of minors. Keerpah, aged 19 at the time, engaged in a series of predatory behaviors targeting two 12-year-old girls through social media platforms, specifically Instagram.

On Saturday, March 2nd, Keerpah initiated contact with the first girl, making inappropriate comments and sending explicit images and videos of himself performing sexual acts. His actions quickly escalated when he targeted a second girl, sending her a graphic image of himself engaged in a sexual act. He then attempted to coerce her into sending explicit photographs of herself, employing manipulative tactics to pressure her into compliance.

When the second victim refused to send such images, Keerpah escalated his harassment by making a video call, during which he continued performing the sexual act, further attempting to intimidate and manipulate her. The police were alerted to his activities, and he was arrested the following day, Sunday, March 3rd, in a park located in Grays, after arranging to meet one of the girls in person.

During a subsequent search of his belongings, officers discovered condoms in his wallet, indicating his intent to carry out further sexual acts. Keerpah was brought before Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, May 2nd, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, three counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and one count of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

On Monday, June 10th, Keerpah was sentenced to 27 months in a youth offenders’ institution. The court also ordered that he be deported halfway through his sentence, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the measures taken to prevent future offenses. This case underscores the ongoing risks posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.