WREXHAM BANKER SAMAND SAFI JAILED FOR INTERNET SEX OFFENCES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Wrexham, Samand Safi, a 36-year-old married man employed at MBNA Chester, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of heinous internet sex offences involving young girls. The court heard how Safi, who resided on Court Road in Wrexham, engaged in a calculated scheme to lure vulnerable minors into sexual acts through online platforms.

According to court proceedings, Safi used various social networking sites, including MSN and Facebook, under aliases such as Rich and Tom, claiming to be aged 17 or 18. His primary objective was to identify and groom young girls, some as young as 12, for sexual exploitation. Prosecutor John Wyn Williams detailed how Safi's online persona was crafted to appear as an attractive, mature individual, often posting images of himself to entice young females.

The court was told that Safi sent hundreds of messages to multiple girls, some of which contained explicit language and references to his own physical attributes, including boasting about his nine-inch manhood. In one particularly alarming incident, he asked a 12-year-old girl to expose her breasts via webcam, and when she became frightened and disconnected, Safi's intentions were made painfully clear.

Further evidence revealed that Safi arranged to meet one girl in a field near Wrexham in his green Fiat Stilo. He explicitly told her, “if you walk to the field you will see my car,” and directly asked, “do you fancy a f***?” The young girl’s mother, who became suspicious after discovering the messages, took swift action. She attended the meeting spot, was shocked to see an older man in the vehicle, and promptly noted down the registration number of Safi’s car. This crucial information led police to his residence, where they seized his mobile phone and vehicle.

When police examined Safi’s phone, they uncovered dozens of sexually explicit messages sent to various young girls. The messages included flirtatious and suggestive language, with Safi claiming to be 17 and advising girls that engaging with older individuals could provide more experience and excitement. Despite Safi’s claims that he was not responsible for the messages and that a friend, who had since returned to Afghanistan, had been staying with him and using his phone and car, the jury rejected his story.

During the trial at Mold Crown Court, Safi was convicted of inciting a 12-year-old girl to engage in a sex act by asking her to expose herself via webcam. He was also found guilty of grooming a young girl for sex in January of the previous year. Safi maintained his innocence, denying all charges, but the evidence against him was overwhelming.

Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Safi to four years in prison and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Additionally, Safi was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes. The judge emphasized the importance of this case as a warning to parents about the dangers posed by social networking websites, especially for young children who may not fully understand the risks involved.

In his closing remarks, Prosecutor John Wyn Williams pointed out that Safi’s claims of a visitor from Afghanistan staying with him at the time were unsubstantiated, and that Safi was deliberately lying to the court. The case has raised significant concerns about online safety and the exploitation of minors, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures for children in the digital age.