ABDUL AZIZ CAUGHT IN BURNLEY TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD FOR SEX BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS
In January 2020, a disturbing case unfolded in Burnley involving a man who had recently relocated to the United Kingdom.Abdul Aziz, aged 38, was apprehended by vigilant paedophile hunter groups shortly after his arrival in the country.
The incident highlights the dangers posed by individuals with predatory intentions attempting to exploit vulnerable minors.
Aziz was ultimately sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a minor and possessing indecent images of children.
The case was heard at Preston Crown Court, where it was revealed that Aziz exhibited a troubling attitude towards British girls, which appeared to be a significant factor in his criminal behavior occurring just weeks after he had settled in the UK.
The groups involved in his capture included Cobra UK and Caught and Confronted, both of which are known for their efforts to combat online child exploitation.
Prosecutor Peter Barr explained that Aziz, a father-of-one, initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Ruby on August 26, 2019.
In reality, he was communicating with a 41-year-old woman who was a member of Cobra UK, posing as the young girl.
From the outset, Aziz’s messages were explicit.
His very first message to the decoy was a lewd request for sexual activity.
Ruby responded with a statement indicating her age, saying, “I don’t know what you mean, I am only 14.” Aziz then attempted to clarify his intentions, claiming he wanted to “hang out and make love.” Over the course of four weeks, Aziz engaged in a series of sexually suggestive exchanges via WhatsApp.
He asked the decoy to send photos of herself in her bra and offered to pay for her phone repairs when she claimed her device was broken.
Additionally, he offered to fund her mobile credit, demonstrating a clear pattern of grooming behavior.
On the day of the planned meeting, Aziz arranged to meet Ruby at Burnley Bus Station, claiming she was from London.
He stated his intention to take her to Rochdale, citing the town’s “nice views” as a reason for the trip.
However, his plans were thwarted when members of Caught and Confronted intervened and contacted the police.
Law enforcement officers seized Aziz’s two mobile phones during the investigation.
A forensic examination uncovered 18 indecent images of pre-teen children stored on one of the devices.
When questioned about the images, Aziz claimed that they had been sent to him by another person and that he believed he had deleted them.
He also stated that the images had been stored in the same folder as family photographs, raising further concerns about his awareness and intent.
Aziz pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to facilitate a child sex offence and possessing indecent images of children.
The court heard that his actions were deliberate and indicative of a distorted attitude towards young girls, particularly those from Britain.
Judge Heather Lloyd expressed her serious concern regarding Aziz’s high risk of harm to children and vulnerable females.
She pointed out that Aziz appeared to view Ruby as an “easy target for his sexual gratification,” emphasizing the predatory nature of his conduct.
The judge also noted that the pre-sentence report described his actions as planned and calculated, driven by a distorted perception of British girls.
As part of his sentence, Aziz was ordered to serve 18 months in prison.
He was also required to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of 10 years and was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at restricting his future contact with minors and vulnerable individuals.
