Ipswich man jailed for 23 years for child sex offences

Why it matters: Mohammed Sayid, formerly of Queensberry Road in Ipswich, was convicted of offences against two girls — one aged under 13 and the other under 16 at the start of the offending — which began in the early 2010s and were reported to police in 2018.

The details: Sayid was found guilty on Thursday, 9 April, by a majority jury verdict following a four-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court. He was convicted of:

• Four counts of rape
• One count of attempted rape
• Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Six counts of sexual activity with a child
• One count of sexual assault by penetration

He appeared for sentencing on Friday, 10 April, where he was handed an extended sentence totalling 23 years — made up of 22 years' imprisonment and a further year on licence. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Extended sentences are given to those convicted of serious violent or sexual offences where an additional period of post-release supervision is required to protect the public.

What they're saying: In a victim's personal statement, one of the victims wrote: "I have mourned the child I was, and I now stand as the adult she never had to protect her."

Detective Constable Gemma Spink, the officer in charge of the case, said: "I would like to commend the victims for their bravery in coming forward and disclosing what happened to them. Without them, Sayid would have been able to continue with his life without retribution.

"Sayid is a sexual predator, who targeted his young victims in the pursuit of sexual gratification and showed absolutely no consideration for the effect his actions would have had on them.

"This case shows that it is never too late to report sexual abuse and that victims will be believed."

The bottom line: Sayid's conviction and sentencing bring to a close a case spanning more than a decade, with police praising the courage of both victims for coming forward.