SIMEON OSEN FROM CHIGWELL AND STANMORE JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE IN ESSEX AND LONDON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Chigwell and Stanmore, Simeon Osen, aged 53, has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for his involvement in online child sexual abuse activities. The offences, which took place during 2012, involved the use of modern technology to facilitate the exploitation of young girls, some as young as ten years old, in the Philippines.

Osen, who resided on Forest Lane in Chigwell at the time of his arrest, previously lived in Stanmore. He pleaded guilty to a total of 13 charges, including arranging and facilitating child sex offences, possessing indecent images, and engaging in online activities that promoted the abuse of minors. His guilty plea was entered during proceedings at Harrow Crown Court, where the court heard harrowing details of his actions.

The court was informed that Osen, a prominent figure within his community and described as a 'pillar of the Jewish community,' used the video communication platform Skype to instruct young girls in the Philippines to perform acts such as penetration, masturbation, and exposing their private parts. These instructions were given to girls as young as ten, with Osen directing their actions remotely from his home. The court heard that he transferred money via PayPal to support these activities, which involved paying for explicit online shows featuring children.

Prosecutor Rhiannon Sadler revealed that investigators uncovered over 41,000 Skype messages on Osen’s computers, in which he negotiated prices, ages, and specific acts he wished to see. One particularly disturbing incident involved Osen watching a 13-year-old girl perform self-penetration over Skype, although he was unable to ejaculate because he was at his workplace and a cleaner was nearby. The prosecution estimated that more than £5,000 was transferred from Osen’s accounts to pay for these illicit videos, though his defense contested this figure.

Judge Martyn Barklem sentenced Osen to a term of just under five years and eleven months in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, “These children were for the most part pre-pubescent, ranging from ages 10 to 15. These children are not objects for your gratification; they are real children and real people.” He also noted the betrayal of trust, acknowledging Osen’s previous reputation as a community leader, and expressed revulsion at his actions. Osen was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The investigation into Osen’s activities was launched in 2013 by the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Sexual Abuse Command, following allegations of abuse involving a 13-year-old girl. During the investigation, authorities seized his personal computers, discovering a significant collection of indecent images, including some categorized as extreme pornography. An additional computer found at his workplace in Harlow revealed over 41,000 messages exchanged with individuals in Manila, Philippines, where Osen was directing the abuse of children.

Detective Constable Rachel Snow from the same command stated, “On the surface, Simeon Osen appeared to be a successful businessman with a family, but in reality, he was a paedophile abusing children. I hope his arrest and conviction serve as a warning to other offenders in the UK who think they can abuse children anywhere in the world. This case exemplifies the dedication of law enforcement agencies to uncover and secure evidence against such offenders. I also hope it encourages victims to come forward and seek justice.”

In a related case from October 2014, Osen, then living in Chigwell, had previously received a suspended sentence after admitting to sexual activity with a girl and possessing child abuse images. He later admitted to 13 counts of arranging the trafficking of children for sex abroad, during the same period. His initial sentence of eight months suspended was upheld despite calls for it to be increased, and he was due for sentencing at Harrow Crown Court on November 6.

Public outrage was expressed following the 2013 sentencing, as the family and friends of the victim voiced their disgust that Osen had avoided prison. The victim’s family, who cannot be publicly identified, criticized the leniency of the sentence, which included a curfew, electronic tagging, and registration as a sex offender. The victim’s aunt described her niece’s ongoing trauma and expressed her disbelief that Osen, a former company director and supporter of Chabad Lubavitch in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, had received such a light sentence. She highlighted Osen’s active participation in community religious activities, which contrasted sharply with his criminal behavior.

Meanwhile, the case of Neil Wilson, another convicted paedophile, saw his sentence increased from a suspended term to two years in prison following intervention by the Attorney General. The victim’s family of Osen’s case expressed hope that similar legal reviews could lead to more appropriate sentencing for offenders like Osen, emphasizing the importance of justice for victims of such heinous crimes.