Shoaib Mohammed, 34, has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to a series of sexual offences against a teenage girl.

The offences followed a period of grooming and manipulation. In 2021, Mohammed contacted the girl through Snapchat, knowing she was only 14 years old. Over a number of months, he continued to speak with her and persuaded her to send him sexual images.

Mohammed arranged for the girl to travel by train from Leicester to Sheffield to meet him. He took her to various hotels over several days, where he sexually abused her. During this time, he would often leave her alone in hotel rooms for extended periods.

The girl’s family reported her missing which prompted a police investigation and Mohammed’s arrest.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to:

1. Five counts of sexual activity with a child
2. One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
3. Three counts of possessing indecent images of a child.

During the sentencing at Leicester Crown Court on 29th October 2026, Judge Keith Raynor described how Mohammed had groomed and manipulated the teenager. Judge Raynor explained that the level of contact was such that the girl believed that she and Mohammed were “boyfriend and girlfriend”.

In addition to the 11 year imprisonment, Mohammed has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years and a 3 year extended license.

The survivor read her own victim personal statement to the court where she described the impact the abuse has had on her life. She spoke of fears that she may have become pregnant and the effect the abuse has had on her ability to trust others and form new relationships.

DC Daljinder Gill from Leicestershire police has appealed for anyone who may have experienced similar behaviour from or who has concerns about Mohammed to come forward and speak with officers.

What is online grooming?

Cases like these highlight how child sexual exploitation has been increasingly starting online. Perpetrators have traditionally targeted and groomed children in person but many now use social media platforms and online games to identify and groom children.

It is very common for children and young people to speak to their friends via social media, text messaging and online games. Unfortunately these same platforms can also be used by perpetrators to build relationships with children and gain their trust. Online grooming may begin with what appears to be friendly communication but can quickly progress into:

• Sending sexual messages or images or asking a child to send sexual images of themselves.
• Encouraging a child to keep the communication secret from parents, carers or friends.
• Offering gifts, money or affection to gain a child’s trust
• Attempting to isolate a child from others
• Arranging to meet a child in person

In this case, Shoaib Mohammed initially contacted the survivor through Snapchat and already knew her age at this point.

Online communication can make grooming easier for perpetrators. Social media and other formats of online communication allow perpetrators to contact large numbers of young people, conceal their identify and gather information about the child before even speaking to them.

For parents and carers, protecting children from online grooming can be very challenging. Many interactions take place through platforms that adults may have limited access to or knowledge of.

Research suggests that technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse is becoming more common than one may think. UNICEF has reported that 1 in 5 children aged 12 to 17 years old across 21 countries have experienced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse. The true scale is likely to be higher due to underreporting.  

Experiencing this technology-facilitated sexual exploitation can be extremely harmful. It can have an impact on feelings of safety, wellbeing and trust in others.

What can be done to help protect children online?

The responsibility for abuse always lies with the perpetrator. However, parents and carers can take some steps to help reduce the risk of online grooming and encourage children to seek support where needed by:

• Maintaining open conversations without judgement about social media, online gaming and other platforms.
• Encouraging children to talk about who they speak to online and speak about any behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Discussing the warning signs of grooming, including attempts to move conversations onto more private platforms and requests for personal information, photographs or videos.
• Showing children how to make use of privacy settings and using parental controls where appropriate.
• Taking an active interest and developing an understanding of the apps and games children use.
• Reassuring children that they will not be blamed or punished if they come forward with concerns about something that has happened online.

Parents and carers should also be aware that grooming often develops gradually. A perpetrator may spend weeks or months building trust with a child. Signs like changes in a child’s behaviour, distress after using their devices or increased secrecy around their devices may suggest that a child needs support.

Where concerns arise, these should be reported to the police or CEOP as soon as possible. Early intervention can help protection children from further harm.

What civil options are available?

Criminal proceedings are important in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. However, a conviction does not account for the full impact abuse can have on a survivor's life.

Survivors of online grooming and sexual abuse often experience psychological and emotional harm. The effects can include difficulties with trust and personal relationships, mental health conditions and an impact on education and employment.

Survivors of abuse may be able to pursue compensation through a number of different routes. The most appropriate option will depend on the individual circumstances of the case. This may include:

• A civil claim directly against the perpetrator, where they can be identified and have sufficient assets for an award of compensation.
• An application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which may be available to victims of violent or sexual crime who meet the relevant eligibility requirements and time limits.
• A claim against a local authority or other organisation responsible for a survivor's care where failures contributed to the abuse occurring.
• A claim against an organisation or institution where the abuse was connected to the perpetrator's employment, position or role within that organisation.

In cases similar to this one, survivors may be able to pursue compensation either directly from the perpetrator or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme. Before bringing a claim against an individual perpetrator, it is important to consider whether the perpetrator has the financial means to meet any compensation award.

How can Switalskis help?

The most appropriate route to receiving compensation will depend on the individual circumstances of the case. Our specialist abuse lawyers have extensive experience supporting survivors of sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation. We provide confidential, sensitive advice tailored to each client's circumstances and can guide survivors through the legal process with care and understanding.

At Switalskis, our specialist abuse team has many years of experience representing survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation. We understand the lasting impact abuse can have and are dedicated to helping survivors secure appropriate compensation.

If you have been affected by abuse, including abuse committed by Shoaib Mohammed, and would like to discuss your experiences in confidence, our specialist abuse lawyers can help.