Oxford University student jailed for attempting to meet 14-year-old for sex

OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT JAILED FOR ATTEMPTING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD FOR SEX

An Oxford University student named Shiraaz Kureembokus, aged 27, who attempted to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

The court heard that Kureembokus initiated contact with the decoy through Grindr on May 5, during the country's lockdown, and exchanged sexually explicit messages.

The decoy, who was an officer acting as a child, informed Kureembokus of his age, to which Kureembokus responded with 'That's cool, I'm 27.' The conversation moved to WhatsApp, where Kureembokus discussed specific sexual acts and expressed his desire to meet the boy.

Prosecutors read out messages where the boy stated he was only 14, and Kureembokus replied, 'Cute baby.' He also discussed meeting the child at his flat, and when he went outside to search for him, authorities arrested him.

Kureembokus admitted to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and was found to have no prior convictions.

The court stated that he was working on the assumption that the individual he was communicating with was a 14-year-old boy and highlighted the devastating consequences of his actions.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, ordered to pay a victim surcharge, and must obey a sexual harm prevention order and register as a sex offender for 10 years.

His defense claimed he was 'finding lockdown particularly difficult' and 'very lonely,' and he did not believe he was meeting a child, though he accepted his offence and expressed remorse.