MAHMOUD MORAD CAUGHT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT TRYING TO MEET 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN BURTON

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming, Mahmoud Morad, a 30-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent, was caught attempting to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl in Burton. The incident unfolded after Morad engaged in a series of inappropriate online communications with the girl, who was posing as a minor named Chloe.

Morad first made contact with the girl through an adult website called Nearby in November. During their online interactions, he became aware of a user posting under the name Chloe, who claimed to be just 11 years old. The girl even uploaded a photograph to support her claim of being a young minor. Morad, showing clear intent, asked her to send him intimate pictures of herself, and he reciprocated by sending sexual photographs of himself.

As their online exchanges progressed, Morad arranged to meet Chloe in person. He traveled from his home in Stoke-on-Trent to Burton with the apparent intention of meeting the girl. However, his plans were thwarted when he arrived at the designated meeting point and was confronted by members of an online child protection team. These specialists had been monitoring the situation and intervened before any harm could occur.

Following the confrontation, Morad was detained and subsequently arrested by police authorities. The case was brought before Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where he faced multiple charges related to his online behavior and intentions. Despite denying allegations that he attempted to cause or incite sexual exploitation of a child, as well as attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, the evidence presented during the trial led to his conviction on all counts.

In sentencing, the court handed Morad a prison term of two and a half years. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the potential risk he poses to the community. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and child protection agencies to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation.