Paedophile bailed near playground despite protests

Sir Mark Rowley, the country's most senior police officer, has voiced strong criticism of the justice system after a convicted paedophile was granted bail.

Zafer Dogan, 32, was jailed for two years and four months on Thursday for creating thousands of AI-generated nude images of women and girls. Despite strong objections from the police and Crown Prosecution Service, Dogan was bailed back to his flat, which overlooked a children's playground. This decision has forced one victim's family to move into temporary accommodation.

Speaking after the sentencing at Wood Green crown court, Commissioner Rowley described the situation as "unfathomable" and stated that officers feel "hamstrung" by such decisions. He attributed the trend to pressure to reduce the number of prisoners on remand, which he believes is leading to more dangerous offenders being routinely granted bail.

The court heard that Dogan captured over 5,000 images without consent or knowledge, many from his bedroom window. These images, along with others of 33 adult women and two children, were digitally altered using AI software to create sexualized content. Dogan pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Rowley also condemned AI companies for their "grossly irresponsible" development of technology that facilitates sexual offending. He emphasized that innovation should not compromise public safety and that industry has a responsibility to prevent the exploitation of their tools by predators.

During the sentencing, Judge Jacobs described Dogan as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character and commended the bravery of the child victims' mothers, acknowledging that no sentence could undo the harm caused by his "depraved actions."