Mosque leader jailed for abusing children over a decade

MOSQUE LEADER JAILED FOR ABUSING CHILDREN OVER A DECADE

A mosque leader exploited his position in the community to abuse children.

Qari Sher Mohammad targeted a total of four children over almost a decade until his brave victims raised the alarm.

Concerns about his behaviour were first raised in 2018, when one of the children revealed he had touched her sexually, while carrying out duties connected to his role as an imam.

This happened at a mosque in Chatham, between 2014 and 2016.

He was arrested and interviewed in April that year, but the investigation did not progress to a charge at that stage due to concerns about the potential impact a trial would have on the victim.

Between 2022 and 2023, Mohammad sexually assaulted three further children and he was arrested on December 11.

As part of their enquiries, investigating officers returned to the victim who had made the previous allegation.

Now an adult, she stated she wished to support a police prosecution for the crimes committed against her.

Mohammad, of Woodford Road, Forest Gate, London, was charged with multiple counts of sexual touching of a child.

He denied the offences and, on March 7 this year, was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 indictments.

Today (September 12), Mohammad, 61, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.

He will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years once he is released.