A Birmingham man who used Snapchat to pose as a teenager and groom a 15-year-old girl has been convicted, after his victim's quick-thinking call to police - where she pretended to order a pizza - led officers directly to him.
The 'Pizza Order' That Was a Cry for Help
Abdul Kahar, 41, of Anthony Road in Alum Rock, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a series of horrific crimes at Birmingham Crown Court. The court heard how Kahar had contacted the girl on Snapchat in June, pretending to be a 17-year-old boy named 'Jay'. After a period of online grooming, he arranged to meet the vulnerable teenager in July.
He picked her up in his car, gave her alcohol, and then violently raped and sexually assaulted her. After the attack, he left her at the roadside in the Druids Heath area.
Mimicking a TikTok Lifeline
In a moment of remarkable bravery and presence of mind, the 15-year-old victim remembered a tactic she had seen in a TikTok video. The video detailed how another sexual assault survivor had covertly called for help by pretending to order a pizza from the police.
On July 28, the girl made that same call to West Midlands Police. The alert call-handler immediately understood the coded message and began asking 'yes' or 'no' questions to ascertain the danger. When asked if she was in danger, the girl replied "yeah".
From the car, the victim was able to provide a precise location and identify her attacker's vehicle, including its registration number. This information allowed police to swiftly locate Kahar at his home address.
Guilty Plea and Forthcoming Sentence
At Birmingham Crown Court on December 1, Abdul Kahar entered guilty pleas to a catalogue of charges. These included two counts of raping a female under 16, four charges of sexually assaulting a female over 13, non-fatal intentional strangulation, and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.
His sentencing has been scheduled for February 9 at the same court. The case highlights both the predatory use of social media by offenders and the incredible resilience of victims.
Detective Constable Lauren Campbell of West Midlands Police praised the combined efforts that led to Kahar's arrest. "I want to praise the brave actions of the girl and also praise the call handler for having the foresight to understand this was a call for help from someone who was vulnerable and in danger," she said.
The officer reiterated the predatory pattern of Kahar's actions: "Kahar posed as a 17-year-old boy on Snapchat and groomed a vulnerable 15-year-old girl online for a period of time before she agreed to meet up with him. He then raped and sexually assaulted her in his car."
