An imam who abused his position of trust to carry out sexual offences against children in Chatham, Kent, has been jailed for 10 years.
Qari Sher Mohammad, 61, targeted a total of four children over almost a decade until his victims raised the alarm.
On Friday, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and will be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years once he is released.
Concerns about his behaviour were first raised in 2018, when one of the children revealed he had touched her sexually, while carrying out duties connected to his role as an imam.
This happened at the Muslim Community Centre in Thorold Road, between March 2014 and October 2016.
Mohammad was arrested and interviewed in April that year, but the investigation did not progress to a charge at that stage due to concerns about the potential impact a trial would have on the young victim.
Between May 2022 and December 2023, Mohammad sexually assaulted three further children and he was arrested on December 11.
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As part of their enquiries, investigating officers returned to the victim who had made the previous allegation in 2018. Now an adult, she stated she wished to support a police prosecution for the crimes committed against her.
Mohammad, of Woodford Road, Forest Gate, London, was charged with multiple counts of sexual touching of a child. He denied the offences and, on March 7, 2025, was convicted at Canterbury Court on 16 indictments.
Detective Constable Conor Middleton said: “This man was in a position of authority when these appalling offences were committed. The children showed immense courage by reporting his actions and I would like to commend them and their parents for assisting our investigation.
“Mohammad is now serving a prison sentence and he should reflect on his actions and the impact they had on these vulnerable victims.”
