‘Sadistic’ paedophile blackmailed 2,000 victims
A “SADISTIC” paedophile who exploited and blackmailed almost 2,000 victims globally after posing as an online sugar daddy has admitted 158 charges in what has been described as “industrial-scale” offending.
Abdul Elahi, 26, admitted a host of charges – thought to be among the highest number of offences one individual has ever pleaded guilty to – after a lengthy investigation, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.
Elahi had previously admitted a majority of the offences, but pleaded guilty to the final tranche of allegations at Birmingham Crown Court last month.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Elahi’s pleas could only be reported yesterday after reporting restrictions were lifted.
His offending included blackmailing victims into sending him humiliating and degrading videos and images of themselves, children and siblings which he then sold online, the NCA said in a statement released following Elahi’s admissions.
He also provided online classes on the encrypted Telegram app, teaching would-be abusers how to blackmail victims and obtain indecent images.
Unemployed Elahi, formerly of Allcroft Road, Sparkhill, in Birmingham, operated by pretending to be a stockbroker or rich businessman on sugar daddy websites.
He then singled out victims who were in debt or too young to legitimately be on the sites, tricking them into sending naked or partially clothed images of themselves.
Elahi also targeted some victims on social media.
Investigators said many of the victims were so terrified they felt they had no choice but to comply, with some “goaded” to contemplate suicide.