In 2015, the Offender Database reported that Syed Ali, then 47, of Newcastle, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to eight years in prison for the knifepoint rape of a 16-year-old girl. Judge Paul Sloan QC described Ali as a predatory individual who deliberately targeted school-age girls for sexual exploitation.
The court heard that Ali, a father of seven who moved to the UK in 1991, was observed loitering at a shopping centre in Sunderland, where he was seen following multiple schoolgirls. He eventually fixated on the victim and her friend, following them, smiling, and waving to lower their guard. After beckoning them over outside the centre, he lied about his age and eventually threatened them with a knife, forcing them to follow him to a secluded area of Mowbray Park.
Once in a wooded area, Ali forced the 16-year-old to the ground and raped her while ordering her terrified friend to act as a lookout. Despite the victim shaking, crying, and begging him to stop, Ali completed the attack before slipping £10 into her pocket and telling the second girl to meet him the following week for money. The victim was left severely traumatised by the ordeal.
In 2026, it was reported that Syed Ali had been released from custody. He has recently been identified in the Chester Road area of Sunderland. As a convicted rapist, he is subject to lifelong notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register and is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). These strict supervision measures are designed to monitor his movements and mitigate the risk he poses to the public, particularly young women and girls.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.