LONDON MAN NAFIZ UTKU CAUGHT BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS AFTER SEXTING DECOY GIRL IN EDINBURGH
In October 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Nafiz Utku, a man from London, who was caught in a sting operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group.The group, known as Maximum Exposure Scotland, had set up a decoy account on the Kik social media platform, posing as a 14-year-old girl named ‘Amber’ from Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Utku, who was 44 years old at the time, believed he was communicating with a teenage girl and engaged in a series of inappropriate and sexual conversations over the course of a year.
During these exchanges, Utku adopted the persona of a 30-year-old man called ‘Matt’.
Despite being aware of ‘Amber’s’ age, he continued to chat with her, expressing interest and making suggestive comments.
Prosecutors revealed that Utku told ‘Amber’ she “looked nice” and inquired about her clothing.
The conversations took a more explicit turn when Utku asked about her pyjamas, expressing hope that they were “soft and smooth” and even suggesting they should be “smooth enough to spank your bum”.
He added, “A gentle spank would be nice,” indicating his intentions.
Most of their conversations occurred during the evening hours.
The decoy group, after monitoring the chats, contacted the police, which led to Utku’s arrest.
The authorities detained him in Edinburgh, where he was taken into custody.
The court proceedings revealed that Utku had sent these sexually explicit messages to ‘Amber’ between July 24, 2019, and July 24, 2020.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Utku entered a guilty plea to the charge of sending sexual communications to a minor.
His plea was accepted by the Crown, although he did not appear in person due to health reasons; he had contracted coronavirus and was unable to travel.
A separate plea of not guilty to the charge of traveling to Edinburgh with the intent to meet ‘Amber’ for unlawful sexual activity was also accepted.
During the hearing, Sheriff Douglas Keir deferred sentencing until next month to allow for reports to be prepared.
Utku was also placed on the sex offenders register, marking a significant step in the legal process.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation, especially in the digital age where such dangers are increasingly prevalent.
