In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that, then 45-year-old, Sohail Ayaz was arrested in Pakistan for the alleged rape of 30 children. It was reported that Ayaz, a former Save the Children worker who was deported from the UK a decade prior, confessed to the “vile” crimes after being accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old boy. Rawalpindi Police reported that Ayaz filmed the sickening attacks over a four-day period and used the dark web to circulate child abuse images.
The investigation established that Ayaz was the same man jailed in Britain in 2009 after being arrested at a charity office. Metropolitan Police reported at the time that a search of his home in Barking, Essex, recovered images of thousands of children being abused, including six-month-old babies. The prosecution reported that Ayaz had sought work at the well-known children’s charity specifically because he was attracted to the potential access it provided to vulnerable children.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Ayaz’s 2009 conviction in the UK resulted in a four-year sentence for a series of “disturbing” sexual offences. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard from the sentencing judge that Ayaz had successfully obtained work at Save the Children, though he was assured the defendant had not gained direct access to victims through that role. The investigation established that after his deportation, Ayaz returned to his homeland and allegedly used threats of social media exposure to silence the families of his new victims.
The arrest comes amid wider scrutiny of the aid sector following the Oxfam sex scandal in Haiti. The Charity Commission reported serious allegations of wrongdoing, including aid workers using charity offices to pay for sex and failing to protect children from “vicious” exploitation. Evidence reported in that case included a 13-year-old girl who claimed she was beaten and used by staff, highlighting a “shocking” failure in safeguarding across international NGOs.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England and Pakistan, the status of Sohail Ayaz as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Legal Status: Arrested and under investigation for 30 counts of rape (Pakistan).
- Previous UK Sentence: 4 years (Sentenced 2009).
- Deportation Status: Kicked out of Britain in 2009/2010.
- Judicial Oversight: Subject to Rawalpindi detectives following a Metropolitan Police historic conviction.
- Criminal Record: Multiple child sex charges; Possession of Category 5 (Level 5) images.
- Origin: Pakistan (Resided in Barking, Essex).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Ayaz was previously managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Essex area before his deportation. Due to the nature of his conduct in Barking, which involved the possession of thousands of images of distressed youngsters “tied up” and subjected to sadomasochistic acts, his management was a maximum priority for UK authorities. Authorities state that his subsequent alleged offending in Pakistan demonstrates the “vicious” and persistent nature of his predatory intent toward children.
As a confirmed sex offender, Ayaz’s UK details remain logged on the national police database to prevent any future attempt at re-entry. Authorities state that his predatory behaviour in Rawalpindi and his history of infiltrating charities require permanent global vigilance. Any attempt by such individuals to move between jurisdictions or seek employment in the “vulnerable” aid sector must be met with immediate information sharing between international police agencies to uphold the protection of children worldwide.
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