Reda Zahri, a 22-year-old resident of Haverstock Road, NW5, has been sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison by the Southwark Crown Court.
His crimes involved preying on men to rob them, leaving a trail of victims who fell prey to his cunning tactics. Zahri pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Three counts of burglary One count of false imprisonment One count of attempting to commit robbery His modus operandi was disturbingly calculated.
Zahri would strike up conversations with gay men, gaining their trust and confidence. Once he had established rapport, he would target them for their belongings.
Often, he engaged in sexual activity with his victims, distracting them while he stole their possessions—often without their knowledge. In one audacious act, Zahri made off with over £25,000 from a victim, using a suitcase to carry his ill-gotten gains. Detectives managed to track Zahri down after he stole items from a man he had met in Camden.
The victim, resourceful and determined, obtained Zahri’s Instagram handle and shared it with the authorities.
This critical piece of evidence led to Zahri’s arrest on May 12, 2022. However, Zahri’s legal troubles didn’t end there.
He claimed to be 17 years old, attempting to exploit his juvenile status. But the tenacious detectives suspected deception.
Their investigation revealed a link to Germany, where Zahri had spent time before arriving in the UK. Detective Constable Nigel Pacquette, from the Safeguarding Team at Charing Cross Police Station, emphasised the gravity of Zahri’s crimes: “All three of Zahri’s victims were gay men, making clear that he was preying on members of the gay community. I also hope this sends out a strong message that the police will investigate anyone and everyone who has been a victim of crime. It is entirely plausible that Zahri targeted other people who, for whatever reason, have not had the confidence to come forward and report this.
I would urge you to please make contact with the police so we can investigate any allegations thoroughly.”
