RASHID AL-WAELI SENTENCED IN NORWICH FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENCES

A man named Rashid Al-Waeli, who was residing at a hotel in Norwich, has been convicted and sentenced for attempting to engage a 14-year-old in explicit online exchanges. The incident took place while Al-Waeli was staying at the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, one of the two temporary accommodation sites used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers and immigrants. During his stay, he repeatedly tried to persuade an individual he believed was a young teenager to send explicit images of himself through online messaging platforms.

It was later revealed that the person Al-Waeli was communicating with was not a minor but an adult decoy operated by a paedophile hunter group. This group had set up the online account to monitor and report suspicious activity, which ultimately led to police involvement. The exchanges between Al-Waeli and the decoy were brought to light during his court appearance this week, where he faced serious charges.

Al-Waeli, a Yemeni national, appeared before Norwich Crown Court and admitted to three counts related to attempted child sex offences, possession of indecent images, and attempting to solicit sexual content from a minor. Following his admission, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Due to the nature of his crimes, which involve sexual offences and a sentence exceeding one year, government regulations automatically prohibit him from claiming asylum or receiving refugee protections. However, Al-Waeli may still attempt to challenge this ban, citing the threats he faces in Yemen, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death.

The court proceedings revealed that Al-Waeli initially made contact with the decoy on the social media platform Sugar before transferring the conversation to WhatsApp. During the court hearing, he claimed that he was 22 years old in the messages and expressed a desire to 'see your body.' Prosecutor Ian James detailed that Al-Waeli sent explicit images of his private parts and repeatedly asked the decoy to send similar images of himself. The communication continued until police seized his phone, which contained evidence of his attempts to solicit sexual images from someone he believed was a minor.

Throughout the proceedings, Al-Waeli, who communicated through an interpreter, admitted to attempting to entice a minor into viewing sexual content, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and possessing indecent images of a child. As part of his sentence, he was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and was registered as a sex offender for the same duration. His legal representative explained that Al-Waeli's actions stemmed from curiosity and a 'rabbit hole of inappropriate online behaviour,' and expressed remorse, especially considering the dangers he faces in Yemen. The judge, Alice Robinson, emphasized the seriousness of his repeated requests for sexual images from someone he believed to be only 14 years old and sentenced him accordingly.

During the court session, Al-Waeli was seen crying and appeared visibly distressed. The judge noted that his offences occurred over a relatively short period of six weeks, which he attributed to curiosity and a lack of support from his family in Yemen, fearing repercussions if he returned. The court also acknowledged his guilty pleas, giving him full credit, and considered mitigating factors such as his remorse and the circumstances leading to his actions. This case highlights the ongoing issue of online exploitation of minors and the legal consequences faced by those who attempt to commit such offences, especially within the context of vulnerable asylum seekers residing in Norwich.