Paedophile who used AI to undress children was bailed to flat overlooking playground

A paedophile who took thousands of pictures of women and children before using AI to turn some of them into explicit images was bailed to his flat overlooking a playground.

Mechanic Zafer Dogan, 32, has been sentenced to two years and four months in jail at London's Wood Green Crown Court, after previously admitting a string of child abuse image offences.

Judge Alexander Jacobs told him: "No sentence can give those families back what you stole from them through your depraved actions."

Prosecutors tried three times to have him remanded in custody after his guilty pleas, but Dogan was repeatedly granted conditional bail by the courts, allowing him to return to his flat in Enfield, north London, which overlooked a children's playground, while awaiting sentencing.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who made a rare appearance in court to watch the sentencing, said the case "is yet another example of victims being let down by a criminal justice system that too often fails to put their safety first - in this case, children".

"The pressure to reduce the remand population has contributed to more dangerous and prolific offenders being granted bail, despite strong submissions from the police and CPS," he said.

"Bail decisions were ultimately made that prioritised the offender's interests over the safety and peace of mind of the victims."

Police found more than 5,000 photographs of unsuspecting women and girls Dogan's phone, many of which had been taken from his bedroom window, while others were of victims he followed in the surrounding area.

They included pictures of children playing, out walking with their parents, or going to and from school.

Dogan used AI to turn 33 pictures of women and two of girls, aged seven and 13, into sexually explicit images, including by removing their clothing.

The mother of the 13-year-old said she "felt like I had been punched in the gut" and broke down in tears in court as she told how her family has had to leave her home and is now living in temporary accommodation.

"I feel like we're on the run, yet we're not the sexual offenders. Dogan is just living the same life while our lives have been changed forever," she said.

"How can a court put him back so close to his victims?"

The mother of the seven-year-old said she was "desperately trying to move to protect my children from this monster", in a statement read by prosecutor Sarah Gabay.

"It doesn't seem fair that because he's a paedophile and chose to exploit my daughter, that my daughter, a victim, has to change everything. How is that fair? She's done nothing wrong."

Most of those photographed by Dogan are yet to be identified and police are appealing for women and parents who may have seen him filming or taking pictures to come forward.

Dogan ran and threw his phone - which also contained another 1,800 indecent images of children and extreme pornographic material, including bestiality - in a neighbour's garden when he was arrested on 16 July this year.

But police dogs found the device and he pleaded guilty to nine charges at Highbury Magistrates' Court on 6 August.

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They included five counts of making indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography, possession of prohibited images of children, creating a purported intimate image of adults and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

More than 600 images were in the most serious category, including babies, and young children being raped.

The judge described Dogan as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who had two sides - that known to his friends and family and the "depraved and perverted" one that led him to commit his crimes.

He said he took thousands of "chilling" pictures of women and girls "going about their daily business - walking, children playing on climbing frames, or at a local park".

"All of them were completely unaware you had surreptitiously taken photographs no doubt for your sexual pleasure," he added.

Jailing Dogan, the judge said he would be "utterly failing my public duty if I sent a message that these offences... had been enabled to have a suspended sentence".

Joseph Carr, defending, apologised to the victims and their families on Dogan's behalf, saying he wished to convey "the sincerity of his remorse and reassurance" the images he made with AI weren't shared.

He said Dogan's family have been served an eviction notice to leave their home of 30 years and are moving out in the coming days.

Metropolitan Police Constable Natalie Scagliarini said: "This is a deeply distressing case. Dogan's actions were predatory and dangerous. He targeted the most innocent of scenes - children playing or out walking with their parents - and manipulated the photos he took in the most sickening way.

"The nature of his offending has understandably left those who have learned of it feeling unsettled and violated, not knowing when they might be being watched or photographed and for what purpose.

"We remain committed to protecting women and children and bringing those who seek to exploit them before the courts, and I thank those affected by Dogan's offending whose bravery and support has helped us to achieve today's result."

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