SERIAL BLACKMAILER WHO TARGETED YOUNG MUSLIM MEN JAILED FOR 16 YEARS

​A predator who systematically targeted young South Asian and Muslim men on Snapchat, calculating that cultural stigmas would keep his victims from reporting him, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

​Waleed Saeed, 31, of Azalea Close, Ilford, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court following a Metropolitan Police investigation that uncovered a years-long campaign of blackmail, manipulation, and sexual violence. Detectives fear there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.

​A Calculated Campaign of Terror

​According to Scotland Yard, Saeed operated by creating fraudulent Snapchat profiles, posing as either a young woman or a transgender woman. After tricking his targets into sending intimate photographs, he would drop the facade, reveal his true identity, and initiate ruthless extortion plots.

​Saeed demanded money under the threat of exposing the images to the victims’ families, religious communities, universities, employers, and friends.

​The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Saeed was convicted of 17 offences against five distinct victims. The charges include:

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• ​Rape
• ​Blackmail
• ​Making indecent images of children

​Two of the identified victims were teenagers, aged 15 and 17 at the time of the offences.

​Exploiting Cultural Stigmas

​The investigation into Saeed’s activities began in August 2024, sparked by a courageous report from a man who had been raped in a North London park. As detectives dug deeper, they discovered a pattern of behavior stretching back nearly a decade.

​”We know Saeed began offending in 2018,” said Lead Investigator Detective Constable Peter Collington. “He deliberately targeted young men from South Asian and Muslim backgrounds on the impression that these victim-survivors would be less likely to contact police.”

​Dc Collington condemned Saeed’s actions, noting that his methods demonstrated “a level of deliberate manipulation and cruelty that caused immense harm” to vulnerable young people.

​Appeal for Further Victims

​The Met Police believe that Saeed’s known crimes may only represent a fraction of his true offending history. Authorities are urging anyone else who may have fallen victim to Saeed’s tactics to contact them, promising absolute confidentiality and specialized support.

​”Saeed relied on fear and silence to protect himself,” a spokesperson for the force stated. “By coming forward, survivors can ensure he faces the full scope of justice, while receiving the dedicated care they deserve.”