Birmingham Mosque Worker Jailed for 16 Years After Grooming and Abusing Boys
A former agency worker at a Birmingham mosque has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for a campaign of rape and sexual abuse against young boys, with victims speaking out about the devastating impact of his crimes.
Details of the Abuse and Sentencing
Said Daauud, of Rudgewick Croft in Aston, was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court last week on multiple charges, including one count of rape, nine sexual assaults, and four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He targeted five boys, the youngest aged just nine and the oldest fourteen, grooming them with gifts such as sweets, AirPods, computer games, and mobile phones to win their trust.
In addition to the 16-year jail term, Daauud was ordered to remain on licence for a further five years after his release. The court also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and indefinite restraining orders against each of the children he attacked.
Victims' Statements and Emotional Impact
Following the sentencing, police shared statements from the victims, who described feeling betrayed, overwhelmed, and manipulated by Daauud. One boy told authorities:
"Said has betrayed my trust. He was a friend, like a big brother. I now struggle to trust adults, because he was someone who I trusted as a true friend. This whole situation has made me feel overwhelmed and I just want things to go back to normal."
Another victim revealed:
"Although I knew it was really wrong, I still tried to see the positives in Said. However, as the months have passed I have more of an understanding of how Said had manipulated me and taken advantage of me and my body. I feel so betrayed by him, I can’t even begin to describe it."
One parent of a victim emphasised the breach of safety, stating:
"Said took advantage of the boys being at the Masjid, a place where children should feel and be safe."
Investigation and Community Response
Daauud worked as an IT support worker at the mosque, which cannot be named for legal reasons, until February 2022. He continued to attend the mosque afterwards and was well-known to the congregation. He used messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat to groom one of the boys, sending over 4,000 messages in an attempt to normalise his behaviour and coerce the victims into expressing affection.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Finney from West Midlands Police's public protection unit’s child abuse team commented on the case:
"Daauud showed no remorse throughout and took the case to trial, which meant the children had to give evidence and be cross-examined. We have made sure they’ve been supported through the process. He used his position within the community to build up a real level of trust with families, who were happy to let him stay the night and care for their children. He abused that trust in the most appalling way, with a series of appalling sexual attacks on really young members of the community."
The investigation was triggered when one of the boys disclosed the abuse to his family. Police worked closely with mosque management, who provided CCTV footage, statements, and details of the children involved, leading to the convictions. DS Finney added:
"I’d like to thank each of the boys and their families for their bravery and support in helping us put this dangerous sexual predator behind bars. Our thoughts are with them today."
