QASIM AZRAM FROM MANCHESTER CAUGHT IN UNDERCOVER POLICE GRINDR STING INVOLVING CHILD SEXUAL INTERESTS
In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predation, Qasim Azram, a 26-year-old man from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, became entangled in a police operation aimed at uncovering individuals with a sexual interest in children.The incident unfolded when Azram engaged in a series of explicit and disturbing conversations with an undercover officer posing as a paedophile fixer on the popular dating app Grindr.
Azram, who used the account name 'Looking For Fun,' initiated contact with the officer, who was operating under the alias 'Lee,' on July 10, 2020.
During their private messaging exchange, Azram made vile and explicit comments about his intentions towards a supposed nine-year-old girl, revealing a disturbing willingness to engage in illegal activities involving minors.
Unbeknownst to him, the officer was part of Greater Manchester Police’s specialized unit investigating individuals with a sexual interest in children, under the operation named 'Operation Stronghold.' In the course of their conversation, 'Lee' mentioned that he was an active father of two children and expressed understanding of Azram’s desire to explore taboo interests, including threesomes.
Azram responded affirmatively, indicating he was 'up for anything,' and inquired about the ages of the children, asking whether they were with men or women.
When told the children were aged two and nine, Azram further inquired about their gender and requested pictures of 'Lee.' As the conversation progressed, the dialogue shifted to a more clandestine platform, Wickr, where Azram asked whether 'Lee’s' partner was aware of their activities and whether they played with men or women.
'Lee' responded that both partners engaged in such activities and described the older child as a 'timid lil girl.' Azram admitted to being aroused by watching children play, using explicit language to describe his perverse interests.
Authorities revealed that Azram explicitly asked which child he wanted to engage with and what acts he wished to perform, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries to avoid harming the children and ensuring that all involved found the experience 'fun.' The pair then arranged to meet at a Tesco supermarket in Middleton, with Azram confirming the vehicle he would be using and describing his attire—black jeans and a blue denim jacket.
During the conversation, Azram expressed fears of being caught, stating, 'OK I want to play and tease them and have a bit of fun anything.' However, the planned meeting never materialized.
The court was informed that Azram never attempted to meet 'Lee' to carry out the illegal acts he had discussed and sought to arrange.
The police, acting on intelligence, raided Azram’s residence on Smedley Road in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.
During the search, officers seized multiple digital storage devices and Azram’s Samsung mobile phone.
Analysis of his devices revealed a history of internet searches related to sexual fetishes and paedophile information, including terms like 'adult breastfeeding fetish' and 'paedophile information exchange.' Azram was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
During police interviews, he chose not to comment on the allegations.
His initial court appearance in February 2022 saw him charged with arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
At that time, Azram indicated a willingness to plead guilty, but he later changed his plea before the sentencing hearing, leading to a trial scheduled for January of the following year.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Azram’s defense argued that he should have been charged with attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence rather than the original charge.
Nonetheless, he ultimately pleaded guilty to the initial offence, only to later seek to change his plea again, a request that was denied.
The court sentenced him to 24 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years.
Additionally, Azram was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, undergo a treatment program for sex offenders, and participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities.
He was also subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Judge Peter Horgan acknowledged the seriousness of the case but emphasized the importance of rehabilitation.
He noted that Azram’s autism diagnosis at age 15, which affected his thinking and behavior, was a relevant factor.
The judge expressed a cautious optimism about the potential for Azram’s rehabilitation, stating that there was some prospect of recovery and that treatment in prison might not be feasible.
The judge’s decision reflected a balance between public safety and the possibility of reform, opting to suspend the sentence rather than impose immediate custody.
