MEZBAHA UDDIN FROM SUTTON CAUGHT IN CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND FLEEING TO FRANCE

In December 2021, a serious case unfolded involving Mezbaha Uddin, a resident of Sutton, who became the subject of a high-profile criminal investigation related to child sex offences. Uddin, aged 39, was actively sought by authorities after he attempted to evade justice by fleeing the United Kingdom, with plans to travel to France. His efforts to escape were thwarted when the National Crime Agency (NCA) apprehended him in Dover, where he was found hiding inside a lorry bound for Calais. This arrest marked a significant breakthrough in the case, which had been under investigation by Nottinghamshire Police for nearly two years, covering incidents that took place between September 2018 and July 2020.

Uddin’s criminal activities came to light during a trial that culminated on August 3, when a jury found him guilty of a total of 16 child sexual offences. The charges included 10 counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a minor and six counts of inciting a child to participate in sexual activities. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about his interactions with underage girls, which spanned over a period of time and involved multiple attempts to exploit vulnerable minors.

Following his conviction, Uddin appeared before Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday, December 22, for sentencing. The court sentenced him to a prison term of 13 years and six months, reflecting the severity of his crimes. His arrest and subsequent conviction were the result of a comprehensive investigation that began after an initial allegation of sexual communication with a child in Nottinghamshire in July 2019. During the investigation, authorities uncovered evidence that Uddin had been communicating with a decoy account operated by an online child protection group. This group had set up the account to monitor and catch individuals attempting to exploit minors online.

According to court records, Uddin had sent indecent images of himself and had arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Mansfield. Once he was arrested, law enforcement seized his mobile phone, which contained messages from a chatroom website. These messages revealed that Uddin had attempted to engage in sexual conversations with over a dozen underage girls. In some instances, he expressed a desire to meet the girls in person, while in others, he encouraged them to engage in sexual activities while he watched. The evidence painted a disturbing picture of a man actively seeking to exploit minors through online communication, with some of his interactions involving explicit content and arrangements for physical meetings.

Uddin’s case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and bring offenders to justice. His arrest in Dover and subsequent conviction serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from sexual abuse and exploitation.