Online grooming case: Bilal Kazi jailed for 30 years by Chester Crown Court

A 27-year-old Indian student, described by UK authorities as a serial online groomer, was jailed for 30 years in north-west England on Friday. Bilal Kazi was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting multiple online child sexual abuse offences. Prosecutors said Kazi exploited and coerced several children into sexual acts through social media and gaming platforms.

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Investigators said Kazi used a repeated approach to reach children online. Police said Kazi posed as a white British teenage boy called Reece. Kazi used photos of an unidentified boy to appear credible. Authorities said Kazi contacted victims on Snapchat, Roblox and Wink. Kazi then persuaded children to believe they were in a relationship.

Bilal Kazi grooming case: court findings and victim impact

The court heard Kazi built trust with girls aged 10 to 15. Martin McRobb said: "Bilal Kazi acted with absolute ruthlessness in grooming, manipulating and exploiting a large number of young vulnerable girls\". Authorities said Kazi pushed victims to send sexual photos and videos. Police said Kazi later used those images to control victims.

McRobb said Kazi forced children to create explicit content and then used threats. Kazi warned victims that images would be shared if demands were refused. McRobb said: \"He befriended them online and forced them to take photos and videos carrying out sexual acts. He then blackmailed those who refused to comply with his further demands, threatening to post the explicit imagery to others. He posed as a teenage boy in order to attract and gain the trust of his victims and caused many to think that they were in a genuine relationship with him. When the victims realised they had been deceived, they were understandably distressed and some suffered serious and long-term trauma,\"

Bilal Kazi grooming case: investigation and police coordination

The CPS said its Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit brought the court extensive evidence. That material was gathered by officers in Cheshire and the West Midlands. Detective Constable Georgia Hughes said: \"The scale of Kazis offending meant this was a truly mammoth investigation, requiring significant resources and close collaboration across the force,\"

Hughes said many victims were young and vulnerable when Kazi approached them online. Police said some believed the contact was their first romantic relationship. Hughes said Kazi used that trust to present abusive behaviour as normal. Hughes said: \"His offending has had a profound and lasting impact on the victims. Many lived in constant fear of what he would do if they failed to comply with his demands, and some have carried that fear with them for years. What should have been important formative years have instead been overshadowed by the trauma of Kazis abuse,\"

Bilal Kazi grooming case: first report, arrests and victim tracing

Cheshire Constabulary said one victim first spoke with Kazi on Snapchat at age 13. Police said the victim believed Kazi was the same age. Officers said the messages soon became sexual, with inappropriate questions. British authorities said that in July 2021, the victim asked to remain friends and stop sending images.

Authorities said Kazi responded with abuse and possessive language. Police said Kazi called the victim names and claimed the victim was his property. Investigators said Kazi threatened to share earlier images and videos with friends. Police said the victim feared those threats and kept sending explicit material. Soon after, the victim’s Snapchat was hacked and shared content was sent onwards.

The victim reported Kazi to Derbyshire Police in November 2021, authorities said. The case moved to Cheshire Constabulary after checks linked Kazi’s last known address to Chester. Police said Kazi later left the country. Kazi was arrested on return to the UK at Heathrow Airport in July 2023. Kazi was then interviewed about the first victim’s allegations.

Officers then reviewed devices and data linked to Kazi, Cheshire Constabulary said. Police identified 180 potential victims using usernames and other recovered information. Specialist Victim Identification Officers helped trace those accounts, police said. As a result, 70 victims were identified across 28 of the UK’s 45 police forces. Police said those victims were aged 11 to 17 during the offending.

Cheshire Constabulary said each of the 70 victims was visited by officers. Police said victims were offered a chance to describe any abuse linked to Kazi. Detective Sergeant Ross Peel said: \"I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to protecting vulnerable people and bringing an end to the sexual exploitation of children. It should also serve as a warning to those who, like Kazi, believe that hiding behind a screen makes them anonymous and untouchable,\"

UK authorities said the investigation showed Kazi relied on deception and coercion to control victims. Police said Kazi used false identities to gain trust and then demanded explicit content. Officers said threats and blackmail followed when victims resisted. The CPS and police said the case drew evidence from several forces, and victims were traced and supported as the prosecution progressed.

With inputs from PTI