A shocking case in Liverpool has raised eyebrows after an asylum seeker, caught sending sexual messages to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, avoided going to prison.
Fahad Al Enaze, 31, from Kuwait, claimed he “didn’t know he was doing anything wrong,” leaving the court to weigh the seriousness of his actions against his explanation.
The Sting That Led to Arrest
Al Enaze was targeted by members of the Widnes Parents Against Predators group in September 2024.
He had sent explicit messages to what he believed was an underage girl, but in reality, it was a paedophile sting operation.
During the investigation, Al Enaze repeatedly asked for photos, questioned the fictional child about sex, and suggested he could “teach her everything” if they started a relationship.
Court Proceedings and Guilty Plea
On Friday, Al Enaze appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Prosecutor Chelsea Kearns described the messages as “sexual texts sent to a 14-year-old decoy child,” emphasizing the premeditated nature of the offence.
Al Enaze reportedly told the arresting officer, “I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong.”
Legal Background and Age of Consent
The case highlighted differences in laws between the UK and Kuwait.
Earlier this year, Kuwait raised its age of consent to 18, and sexual activity is only permitted within marriage.
Previously, men could marry at 17 and women at 15 with parental or judicial consent.
The court noted that Al Enaze’s defence did not excuse his persistence after being told the girl was only 14.
Sentence and Rehabilitation Orders
The magistrates handed Al Enaze an eight-month jail sentence but suspended it for 24 months, meaning he avoided immediate imprisonment.
He was also issued a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Additional punishments include 25 rehabilitation activity days, 300 hours of unpaid work, and fines totaling £272.
Magistrate Issues Stern Warning
Judge JP Paul Chadwick made it clear that Al Enaze had narrowly avoided a custodial sentence. “In this country, we take these offences seriously.
You should be truly ashamed of yourself,” the magistrate told him, underscoring the gravity of his behaviour.