Man disguised as famous YouTuber sentenced to 17 years in prison

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, a sex offender who posed as a 15-year-old famous YouTube star and blackmailed hundreds of girls around the world, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison in Australia.

Two-thirds of his victims were under 16 years old and came from countries such as the USA, Japan and France. He pleaded guilty to 119 charges relating to 286 people in Perth court.

The perpetrator pretended to be an internet star, started a conversation with his victims and then engaged them in discussions about sexual fantasies.

He later drove them to extreme abuse by threatening to send explicit messages and pictures of them to their relatives.

At times, the degrading acts also included the family pets and other children in the house.

Rasheed is also said to have been active in misogynistic “incel” communities and occasionally invited other people to watch the disturbing acts on live streams.

He continued the blackmail even though he knew the fear and distress his victims were going through.

“The callous disregard this man showed to his victims around the world and their suffering, humiliation and fear make this case one of the most horrific sextortion cases ever tried in Australia,” said Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner David McLean.

He is already serving a five-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in his car at Perth Perk. Rasheed will be eligible for parole in August 2033.

Australian authorities call it “one of the worst cases of sextortion” in history.