HACKNEY OFFICER ROLAND LAMIN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS IN LONDON AND BRISTOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Hackney community and beyond, Roland Lamin, a 29-year-old former army officer from Redwald Road, Clapton, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of serious sexual offences involving underage girls. Lamin’s criminal activities came to light after a schoolteacher overheard a student referring to a man as their ‘sugar daddy’ during a conversation at school, which prompted an investigation that uncovered a pattern of grooming and exploitation.

Throughout the trial, it was revealed that Lamin had used social media platforms, particularly Snapchat, to target vulnerable schoolgirls under the age of 16. He initially engaged them with friendly, seemingly innocent messages, but as rapport developed, his communication turned increasingly sexual. Lamin would send explicit photographs and videos of himself, requesting similar images from his victims. One particularly disturbing aspect of his misconduct involved recording FaceTime calls with a young girl, during which he encouraged her to touch herself sexually, further demonstrating his predatory behaviour.

His offending spanned from August 2016 to June 2019, during which he was found guilty of multiple charges, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to view sexual images, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and making indecent images of a child. Additionally, Lamin was convicted of sexual assault against a girl aged 15 and breaching a sexual risk order that had been previously imposed to restrict his contact with minors.

His criminal conduct was not limited to online activity. Lamin met one of his victims in person and sexually assaulted her in his car. The case also revealed that Lamin falsely claimed to be younger than he was, a tactic used to deceive his victims and facilitate his illegal activities.

The investigation was initiated after a girl was overheard at school discussing her relationship with Lamin, who was buying her gifts and was referred to as her ‘sugar daddy’. This report was formally made to the police, leading to an extensive investigation by Stoke Newington CID, which was later taken over by officers from Central Specialist Crime. Lamin was first arrested in Wiltshire on 23 January 2018, and subsequent investigations uncovered his continued online interactions with minors.

Despite being issued an interim Sexual Risk Order on 9 April 2019, which prohibited him from contacting or communicating with girls under 16 and from using social media, Lamin resumed contact with a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat. He even arranged to meet her in Bristol in June 2019, but she changed her mind and did not show up. This breach of the order led to his re-arrest on 18 June 2019.

On Monday, January 27, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Lamin was sentenced to seven years in prison for his numerous offences. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his actions and the danger posed to young girls. Lamin’s case highlights the ongoing risks associated with online grooming and the importance of vigilance among parents, educators, and law enforcement agencies to protect vulnerable minors from predators like him.