ZAHID AKRAM FROM REDDITCH EXETER AND LYME REGIS CAUGHT IN SHOCKING SEXUAL BLACKMAIL SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through multiple communities across the UK, Zahid Akram, a 37-year-old physics teacher originally from Redditch, has been sentenced to six years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the blackmail and exploitation of teenage girls. The offences, which spanned from 2011 to 2012, involved the manipulation and coercion of victims as young as 13, using the internet as his tool for predatory behavior.

Akram, who was employed as a teacher at Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, Dorset, but was residing in Exeter, Devon at the time, targeted victims across various regions, including Northern Ireland, the South of England, and other parts of the UK. His method involved creating fake online profiles, often posing as a young man, to establish contact with vulnerable girls on social networking sites such as Badoo.com. Under false pretenses, he persuaded them to send him photographs of themselves in their underwear, initially as innocent exchanges, but his intentions quickly turned sinister.

Once he obtained these images, Akram resorted to blackmail, threatening to send the explicit pictures to the girls’ parents, their schools, or to post them on pornographic websites unless they complied with his further demands. He even went as far as threatening to rape some of the victims if they refused to cooperate. His threats were not only verbal but also highly detailed, as he researched personal information about the victims, including their parents’ full names, which he then used as leverage to intensify his intimidation.

One of his victims, a 16-year-old girl, believed she was communicating with a young man named Kurt Renshaw. She shared ordinary pictures with him, unaware of his true identity. Akram then demanded more explicit images, including pictures of her in her bra and knickers, which he shared on a private over-18 site used by minors. Over a period of three days, he aggressively blackmailed her, threatening to post her images online and to send them to her school and parents if she did not meet his increasingly disturbing demands.

Another victim, just 13 years old and residing in Northern Ireland, was subjected to similar tactics. Akram coerced her into taking explicit photographs of herself, including naked images, and threatened to reveal her pictures to people in her town. He also demanded a £40 top-up for his phone, further humiliating her. The youngest victim was forced to send him topless and bottomless photos, and he isolated her from her friends and family, even calling her names and leaving her short of money to buy her mother a Christmas gift after she paid him £40 for a phone top-up.

Akram’s manipulation extended to threats of violence, including a false claim that he would meet one girl and rape her at a hotel near her home. His threats and blackmail tactics left several victims terrified, with some fearing they would be raped, and others feeling overwhelmed by shame and embarrassment. The victims, who did not know each other and lived in different parts of the UK, were united by their fear and distress caused by Akram’s relentless exploitation.

During his arrest, Akram initially claimed he used false names to hide his online activities from his wife, claiming he was merely “flirting” with people. However, his deception was uncovered, and police investigations revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that had been ongoing for years. Detective Constable Steve Harris, who led the investigation, stated that Akram had at least 12 online profiles, including one as a woman, and had contacted hundreds of young people, some as old as 30. His primary motive appeared to be sexual gratification, but he also sought control over his victims, who were often vulnerable and susceptible.

Following his arrest, Akram was suspended from his teaching duties and later resigned from his position at Woodroffe School. The school’s headteacher, Dr. Richard Steward, confirmed that the school had cooperated fully with police and assured the public that the offences had no connection to the school or the local community. Akram was subsequently placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and banned from working with children. He is expected to be released after serving half of his six-year sentence.

In court, Judge Francis Gilbert QC described Akram’s actions as “an evil crime, one of the ugliest on the criminal calendar,” emphasizing the severity of his offenses. The judge highlighted that Akram, a highly intelligent man, knew exactly what he was doing and that his crimes involved “getting young girls on the internet to take their clothes off and show themselves in their underwear,” then blackmailing them with their own images and personal information. The judge also noted the emotional toll on the victims, some of whom were left “absolutely terrified” and fearing for their safety.

Prosecutor David Sapiecha detailed the profound impact of Akram’s actions, describing how the victims were left crying, feeling sick, and deeply embarrassed. He pointed out that Akram’s motives were primarily sexual and that he actively sought out victims through social networking sites, exploiting their vulnerability for his own gratification. The investigation revealed that Akram’s online activities began in October 2009 and continued until 2012, with his use of false identities and manipulative tactics designed to control and intimidate his victims.

In addition to his prison sentence, Akram was ordered to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from working with children in the future. His case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the exploitation of minors, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.