Indian national jailed for 30 years for grooming and exploiting 70 girls across UK

CHESTER, UK:An Indian national who used the internet to groom and sexually exploit around 70 girls across the United Kingdom has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

Bilal Kazi was handed the sentence at Chester Crown Court for a series of serious offences involving the online grooming and exploitation of children. He will also serve eight years on licence following his release.

The case came to light following an investigation by Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team. Police identified 71 girls under the age of 16 from across the UK who were allegedly targeted between 2021 and 2023.

Kazi had previously been charged with 39 offences, including making indecent images of children, blackmail and encouraging children to engage in sexual activity.

The investigation revealed how the offender used the internet to approach young girls, manipulate their trust and exploit them.

The lengthy prison sentence reflects the seriousness and scale of the crimes and the harm caused to the victims.

The case has renewed concerns about online child safety, internet grooming and the responsibility of social media platforms to protect young users from sexual predators.