MUHAMMED IDREES FROM FLETTON SENTENCED IN PETERBOROUGH FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a significant case that highlights ongoing concerns about online safety and the protection of minors, Muhammed Idrees, a 48-year-old resident of Fletton, was sentenced to over three years in prison after being convicted of engaging in sexual communication with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The incident came to light when a dedicated paedophile hunting group uncovered his inappropriate online interactions, leading to his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings in Peterborough.

On January 12 of this year, police officers detained Idrees following reports from the vigilant group, which had been monitoring his Facebook activity. The group had identified that Idrees was messaging what he thought were teenage girls aged 13 and 14. However, these accounts were actually operated by adults posing as minors to catch potential offenders. During these exchanges, Idrees engaged in sexually explicit conversations, urging the supposed minors to send indecent images of themselves. He also proposed meeting at hotels and offered to buy gifts for the girls, further demonstrating his intent to pursue illegal activities. Additionally, he sent explicit images of himself to the fictitious minors.

While Idrees was initially released on bail to continue investigations, authorities uncovered that he had left the UK for France and subsequently traveled to Germany. He returned to the UK on June 15, prompting a further arrest. His movements raised concerns about his compliance with the conditions of his bail and his obligations as a registered sex offender.

It is important to note that Idrees had previously been convicted of two sexual assaults in August 2017, which resulted in his placement on the Sex Offenders Register. As part of his registration, he was subject to strict monitoring by the Public Protection Unit, which included checks on his online activity, access to digital devices, and his registered address. Despite these measures, he failed to notify authorities of a change in his address, breaching the conditions of his registration.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday, 14 October, Idrees pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He also admitted to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register. The court sentenced him to three years and three months in prison. Furthermore, he was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which aims to restrict his activities and prevent further harm.

This case underscores the importance of vigilant online monitoring and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.