Bilal Kazi Sentenced to 30 Years for Targeting Young Girls Online

Thirty years in prison awaits a man who targeted at least 70 young girls online by posing as a blond-haired boy called Reece, The Times of India reported.

Bilal Kazi, 27, convinced victims as young as ten that they were in a relationship before demanding sexually explicit photographs. When they refused, he threatened them, according to court proceedings.

The Honorary Recorder of Chester, Judge Steven Everett, said that Kazi went after minors who felt secure within the confines of their houses. The judge said that Kazi took advantage of social media security gaps that should have protected young people from predators.

One 13-year-old victim attempted suicide after Kazi circulated an explicit video of her that was seen by almost 100 of her school friends. Another victim described the lasting psychological impact of her experience.

“I’ve struggled with anxiety and I often worry about who has seen the images and whether they exist and could be shared again,” she said.

Police launched a nationwide probe into online sex abuse in 2021 after Kazi circulated images of a victim on social media. Investigators ultimately traced 71 victims, though they believe the actual number could reach 180.

Officers arrested Kazi at Heathrow Airport in July 2023 as he returned from Kuwait, where his family reportedly lives. Forensic downloads of his seized devices revealed more than 400 indecent images and videos on his mobile phone, alongside another 500 files at his Birmingham home.

Kazi originally studied for a master’s in chemical engineering at Birmingham University before pursuing a PhD at the University of Chester, eventually overstaying his student visa. When rearrested in March 2025, he answered no comment to police questioning and showed no remorse.

After being released on bail a second time, police discovered he had secretly acquired a new mobile phone to resume targeting girls. Officers arrested him for a third time in August 2025 and remanded him in custody.

Kazi studied for his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Chester and later studied for a master’s in chemical engineering at Birmingham University.

Police traced 71 victims during their nationwide probe, though investigators estimate the total number of victims could be as high as 180.