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Waleed Saeed, a British-born Muslim man of Somali heritage, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of creating over 100 fake social media accounts to blackmail and sexually assault young Muslim men. According to the Metropolitan Police, this case represents the largest instance of “sexploitation” they have handled to date. The 31-year-old used platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Grindr to engage with victims, many of whom were teenagers as young as 15 and identified privately as gay or bisexual.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, details emerged revealing how Saeed lured victims by presenting false identities, soliciting intimate images, and then threatening to expose their sexual orientation or private photos to their families and friends. When victims could not meet his financial demands, Saeed coerced them into physical meetings where he sexually assaulted them, sometimes wearing a face covering to conceal his identity. His offenses, spanning back to 2018, include charges of rape, attempted rape, blackmail, and producing indecent images of children.
The investigation began after an 18-year-old victim reported a rape in a London park in August 2024. The victim had initially believed that he was communicating with a transgender woman, but it was later revealed that Saeed was behind the fake profile. Following threats to release the victim’s intimate images if a ransom was not paid, Saeed forced multiple encounters where sexual assaults occurred. Forensic examination of the victim’s phone was instrumental in Saeed’s arrest; two mobile devices seized from him also contained further compromising material involving other victims. Saeed targeted individuals under various usernames including “Trans Girl Leah” and “ComeDeal,” and the Metropolitan Police are now investigating around 100 more potential victims.
During sentencing, Judge HHJ Greene addressed Saeed’s motivations, noting his own struggle with cultural attitudes toward homosexuality and how he exploited vulnerabilities within his victims’ communities. The judge described Saeed as highly skilled at “catfishing and sexploitation,” manipulating victims into trusting him and then coercing them with the threat of exposure. Impact statements revealed the deep and lasting effects on victims, such as severe anxiety and fear of familial rejection. Detectives continue to urge anyone affected or who has information about further victims to come forward, assuring complete confidentiality and sensitivity. Support services outside of the police, such as the LGBT+ charity Galop, have also been recommended for those seeking assistance
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