Lewisham Man Jailed for Child Abuse and Court Deception
Asfandyar Saleem, 28, from Lewisham, was slammed with a 52-month prison sentence at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 November. He admitted guilt to a shocking 11 offences, including perverting the course of justice, possessing indecent images of children, attempting sexual communication with minors, and holding extreme pornographic images.
Police Raid Uncovers Disturbing Evidence
Back in February 2022, Met officers from the Online Child Sex Abuse and Exploitation Team raided Saleem’s home. He confessed to viewing indecent images of children.
Officers seized his devices and discovered a horrifying stash: 2,193 illegal images, including 431 Category A indecent images depicting serious sexual abuse of children.
‘Sugar Daddy’ Lured Kids on KIK App
Investigators also uncovered Saleem’s vile sexual chats on the KIK messenger app. He styled himself as a “sugar daddy,” exchanging gift cards for explicit photos of children under 16 performing sexual acts.
Fraudulent LinkedIn Profile Tried to Derail Justice
While awaiting trial, Saleem twisted the knife by creating a fake LinkedIn profile impersonating his own investigator. He sent doctored photos and messages suggesting the evidence against him was fabricated, forwarding these fake claims to the Met in a blunt attempt to sabotage the case.
Further police action in May 2023 revealed the full extent of his deceit, including the fake profile, doctored images and a Twitter account used to spread lies. Saleem was promptly rearrested.
Met Officers Refuse to Back Down
Detective James Cronin of OCSAE said: “Saleem is a convicted paedophile who preyed on children and launched a fraudulent campaign to have the case against him dismissed. This court result shows that Met officers will do everything possible to bring perpetrators to justice.”
Acting Superintendent Jo Lloyd added: “Officers from this dedicated unit are working tirelessly to take predators off the streets. If anyone has information about child sex abuse, please contact police via 101 or dial 999 in an emergency.”
Justice served – but the fight to protect children from predators like Saleem is far from over.
