HAZAA SAID CAUGHT IN NEWCASTLE TRYING TO MEET 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOR SEX AFTER ONLINE GROOMING
In October 2015, Hazaa Said, a man originally from Oman who was residing in Newcastle at the time, was caught in a sting operation orchestrated by the online vigilante group Dark Justice.The group, known for posing as underage girls to trap men interested in underage sex, successfully apprehended Said as he arrived in Newcastle with the intent to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl for sexual activity.
According to reports, Said had engaged in a series of explicit online exchanges with the fake profile, which was operated by the vigilante group.
During these conversations, he sent a graphic image of his genitals and discussed intimate acts, including hugging, kissing, and the possibility of having sex with the girl he believed was 11 years old.
The group had arranged a meeting location in Newcastle, where Said was expected to meet the girl, identified as 'Amanda.' At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Tim Gittins addressed Said directly, dismissing his claim of ignorance regarding UK law.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of his intentions, stating, 'Your excuse that you didn’t know the law of this country simply will not wash.' He pointed out that Said’s discussions with the fake girl involved not only affectionate gestures but also explicit sexual intentions, supported by the fact that he had sent a nude photograph of himself.
Said, who had been studying in London before moving to Newcastle, admitted to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
He explained to detectives that he was unclear about the legal implications of his actions in the UK.
Despite this, the court found his behavior highly culpable.
The evidence showed that Said had started communicating with the fake girl via a dating site before moving the conversation to WhatsApp.
In one message, the girl, posing as 'Amanda,' asked, 'Hey it’s Amanda :) I’m 11 is that fine,' to which Said responded, 'Yup.
Age doesn’t matter for me.' Prosecutor James Adkin highlighted that the conversations clearly indicated the girl’s age and Said’s awareness of it.
Over subsequent days, their exchanges included discussions about meeting and sexual activity, with Said expressing that he was okay with her being 11 and even requesting pictures of her.
The culmination of these interactions was the planned meeting in Newcastle.
When the vigilante group confronted Said at the designated meeting point, they recorded the encounter on video.
Initially, he appeared unaware of the gravity of his actions, smiling and seemingly confused.
However, the situation changed dramatically when a police officer arrived, handcuffing him and taking him into custody.
In court, Judge Gittins sentenced Said to two years in prison.
His defense lawyer, Jonathan Devlin, argued that Said would face difficulties in custody due to English not being his first language and expressed concern that his marriage might be jeopardized by a custodial sentence.
It was also noted that Said had no prior convictions either in the UK or in his home country of Oman.
