Parents urged to be alert to online grooming after offender used fake profiles to target girls

A convicted child sex offender has been given another 10 years behind bars after being found guilty of dozens of further offences, thanks to specialist Met detectives.

Syed Shahreear Ahmed, 37 (21.09.88), of Mossford Lane, Barkingside, who was already serving time for child sex abuse offences, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on 10, July following a second trial.

He was sentenced today, (Thursday, 5 November) to 25 years with an extended period to serve on license of eight years.

The latest convictions come after an exhaustive investigation by detectives from the Met's Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE) team, who were determined to identify every victim and secure justice for every offence.

Officers uncovered 12 further victims and offences hidden within hundreds of gigabytes of digital evidence seized from Ahmed's mobile phones.

Police believe there may be even more victims and are urging anyone who had contact with Ahmed to come forward.

Ahmed, a former maths teacher, used fake online identities on popular social media apps with altered photographs to groom girls aged between 13 and 16 before arranging meetings and sexually abusing them.

Ahmed was convicted of 37 child sexual abuse offences following the extensive Met investigation. The offences included rape, sexual assault, sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, child sexual exploitation and offences relating to indecent images of children.

These convictions followed an earlier trial in 2025, where he was found guilty of 14 child sexual abuse offences, alongside previous guilty pleas for offences relating to indecent images of children.

In total, Ahmed has now been convicted of 56 child sexual abuse offences, relating to 18 victims.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kelleher, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "Many offenders may believe that once they have been convicted our work stops. This case shows that is simply not true.

"Following Ahmed's initial conviction, detectives continued to scrutinise digital evidence, pursuing every line of enquiry and identifying further victims who had been targeted, groomed and abused.

"Ahmed was a manipulative and prolific sexual predator who spent years creating fake online personas to gain the trust of children before exploiting them. This case is a stark reminder to parents that people online may not always be who they claim to be. I would urge them to talk openly with their children about who they are communicating with online and to encourage them to speak to someone they trust if an interaction makes them feel uncomfortable or concerned.

"The bravery shown by the victims in this investigation has been extraordinary and it is thanks to them that we have been able to build a comprehensive picture of Ahmed's offending.

"We believe there may be other victims who have not yet spoken to police. If you have had contact with Ahmed or believe you may have information that could assist our investigation, please come forward. You will be supported by specialist officers and treated with sensitivity and care throughout."

During the first trial, the court heard how Ahmed's offending first came to light in May 2023 after two teenage girls independently reported concerns to police.

One 14-year-old girl jumped from Ahmed's moving car after becoming terrified by his behaviour. Her report, alongside information from another victim, led officers to begin piecing together a pattern of offending that stretched across multiple counties.

Detectives subsequently examined digital material recovered from two mobile phones seized following Ahmed's arrest. Officers spent months reviewing hours of social media messages, images and videos, eventually identifying seven victims and uncovering offending dating back to 2019.

The Met took over the investigation due to the complexity of the case and the geographical spread of victims, working with police colleagues from Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent.

The Met's Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE) team is responsible for investigating some of London's most serious and complex child abuse cases. Their work includes identifying online predators, safeguarding children at risk, examining digital devices and tracing hidden victims.

In this case, OCSAE detectives continued analysing evidence long after Ahmed's initial arrest, uncovering further victims and offences to build a comprehensive picture of his criminality and ensure justice was secured for as many victims as possible.

Demand for OCSAE operational activity has risen significantly over the past two years, with average weekly arrests increasing. Crucially, officers are now securing an average of 17 charges against offenders each week, demonstrating a constant focus on bringing offenders to justice and safeguarding children.

Detective Constable Carl Conibeere said: "Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation remains one of our highest priorities. We will continue to relentlessly pursue offenders, identify those who may be at risk and ensure victims receive the support they deserve. Our determination to secure justice does not end with a conviction."

Claire Brinton, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Syed Ahmed pretended to be a teenage boy to target his young victims via social media platforms, where he groomed and exploited them for his sexual gratification

“Some of his sexual abuse took place online, but he also arranged to meet some of his victims so that he could commit further sexual offences, including rape. All of his victims were under 18 years of age, some as young as 14.

“His predatory behaviour is all the more shocking because he was a teacher who had been trained in safeguarding children.

“We know that sexual abuse can have a devastating impact. I hope that the sentence imposed brings some comfort to Ahmed’s victims.

“This sentence sends a clear message that the CPS will pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children both in person and online.

“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them to the police. You are not alone and there is always help available.”

Appeal

Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who may have had contact with Ahmed, or who believes they may have been affected by his offending, to contact police.

Reports can be made online or via 101. In an emergency, always call 999.

Anyone affected by this case can also seek support through Rape Crisis England & Wales' 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222.