HACKNEY PAEDOPHILE RAPPER DANIEL RODRIGUEZ USED GANGSTA IMAGE TO GROOM TEEN GIRLS FOR SEX

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Hackney community, Daniel Rodriguez, a 28-year-old self-styled 'gangsta rapper' known as Grimey D, has been found guilty of grooming and abusing multiple underage girls through social media platforms. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez exploited his 'gangsta' persona to lure vulnerable teenagers into his web of sexual exploitation.

Rodriguez systematically contacted thousands of young people on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Blackberry Messenger over a span of three years, from 2012 to 2015. His method involved befriending teenage girls, showering them with compliments about their appearance, professing love, and inviting them to his residence, which he shared with his parents and sister in Hackney. Once at his home, he engaged in sexual acts with the victims, often filming these encounters for his own gratification.

The court heard that Rodriguez's predatory behavior was both calculated and increasingly demeaning. One of his victims, whom he befriended on Instagram when she was just 13 years old, was first sexually assaulted at the age of 14 at his Hackney residence. During their encounters, Rodriguez requested that she bring along a friend he had seen on her Facebook profile, and he recorded much of the abuse while the girls were together.

The police investigation, which commenced after Rodriguez's arrest on August 27 of the previous year, uncovered a trove of evidence. Authorities seized his phone, Blackberry device, and three USB drives, discovering videos depicting Rodriguez engaging in sexual acts with four of his victims—three aged 14 and one aged 15. Additionally, officers found footage of Rodriguez having sex with men, indicating a broader pattern of sexual activity.

Further disturbing details emerged when it was revealed that Rodriguez had also met two other girls in the street in Hackney and contacted them via Blackberry Messenger, leading to sexual encounters. One of these girls, aged 15, chose not to speak with police, but Rodriguez admitted to creating an indecent image of her. It is believed that many more victims may exist, as none of the girls came forward voluntarily, and police suspect a wider network of exploitation.

Rodriguez faced charges related to the two girls who were friends and appeared before a judge in November last year. However, the case was halted when additional offences involving other victims came to light, prompting a comprehensive investigation into his activities. The case underscores the dangers posed by predators who manipulate social media to target and exploit young, impressionable teenagers in Hackney and beyond.