SHAKER SHARIF FROM MIDDLESEX JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LONDON

A man described as a manipulative paedophile, Shaker Sharif, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for a series of heinous sexual crimes involving underage girls. The offences took place across London, with Sharif, a resident of Middlesex, targeting vulnerable teenagers through various online platforms and social media.

Sharif, aged 44 and living on Middleton Avenue in Greenford, Ealing, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, May 30. He was dressed in an olive green hoodie during the hearing, which followed his arrest in September 2017. The court heard that he had been subject to a restrictive sexual risk order since 2020, which was intended to limit his contact with children, but his criminal activities persisted despite these restrictions.

The court was informed that Sharif had previously been involved in property management, serving as a director of the now-dissolved Tenantbox Limited, a company that advertised rooms across London and offered landlords a zero per cent management fee. The company's social media accounts also followed businesses related to massage equipment and an account named 'Sexpestinthecity,' raising questions about his connections and possible motivations.

His first known victim was a 14-year-old girl he met in 2015. Using the pseudonym 'Jay Biggs,' Sharif engaged in grooming tactics, exchanging explicit images and videos, including fully naked photographs. Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell explained that Sharif used manipulative methods, such as sending links to pornography websites and referencing his escorting business, to lure the girl. He also discussed meeting girls and paying them for sexual acts, including 'happy endings,' with claims of offering up to 600 pounds.

Over several months, Sharif continued these disturbing conversations, which culminated in the girl expressing discomfort, stating that it seemed like he only wanted indecent images of her masturbating or for her to have sex with him. Despite her objections, Sharif persisted, believing they were in a relationship, and continued requesting explicit images. Police recovered 159 indecent images of the girl during their investigation.

In August 2016, Sharif began chatting with a second victim, a 13-year-old girl, on a teenage dating app known for being a hotspot for paedophiles, as warned by the NSPCC since 2014. The girl falsely claimed to be 19, while Sharif was 36. During their conversations, he asked if she was a virgin and exploited her vulnerabilities, including her self-harm and bullying at school. Within a day, he sent her a photograph of his genitals and called her 89 times. He also sought her friends' contact details, which she provided, and evidence showed he called the number she gave.

Sharif continued to pressure her for more explicit images, asking for 'your body, tits, p**sy, all,' and she eventually sent two more pictures before stopping due to feeling annoyed and not being allowed to continue. The girl reported feeling manipulated and distressed by his persistent demands.

The third victim, a 17-year-old girl, was found to have 164 indecent images of her in Sharif's possession. He had sent messages expressing a desire for her to be older and offered to make money if she trusted him. He discussed the earnings of girls in the sex industry and invited her to London. Police later identified 55 payments made to her bank account from Sharif.

The fourth victim, a 15-year-old girl in 2015, responded to Sharif's Craigslist advert for teen models, claiming she was 16. Their conversations involved discussions about joining an agency and rates for shoots. Sharif later asked if she would participate in sexual shoots or videos in Shepherd's Bush.

The final victim was just 14 years old when she received multiple bank transfers of between 10 and 20 pounds in exchange for sexual content in June 2015. Prosecutor Bramwell described Sharif's messages as 'plainly manipulative,' with him claiming to 'love' her and accusing her of not caring about him. She pointed out that Sharif often talked about other girls and sex, rather than asking about her well-being.

Sharif was arrested at his home on September 27, 2017, on unrelated charges, during which devices containing evidence of child exploitation were seized. He faced multiple charges, including making indecent images of children, inciting sexual activity, and causing sexual exploitation. Initially denying 20 counts, he later changed his pleas on several charges, but the Crown decided not to pursue all remaining counts, leading to a final plea agreement.

He admitted to five counts of causing sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of paying for sexual services of a child, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of making indecent images of children. The court heard that Sharif's actions demonstrated a high level of manipulative behavior, with some victims suffering serious psychological harm.

Defense lawyer Zacharias Miah requested a suspended sentence, citing delays in the case, Sharif's mental health issues, and his participation in rehabilitation programs. He argued that the case was 'victimless' in part, as some victims were not involved in the proceedings and the evidence was primarily from electronic devices.

However, Judge Recorder Sam Robinson KC dismissed these arguments, emphasizing the manipulative and controlling nature of Sharif's conduct. The judge highlighted the long-term psychological damage inflicted on the victims and described Sharif's persistent efforts to solicit explicit images and meet young girls for sexual purposes.

Sentencing, the judge imposed a nearly four-year prison term and a seven-year sexual harm prevention order. Sharif is also required to register as a sex offender for life and pay a victim surcharge of 170 pounds. Although the judge did not find him to be 'dangerous' under the legal definition, he acknowledged the high risk of harm posed by Sharif's behavior and the need for ongoing monitoring.