South London criminals jailed for over 40 years in September

Multiple south London residents were sentenced to prison in September 2026 for a range of serious offences. The cases heard included a kidnapping plot involving a £30,000 ransom, an attempted rape in Canary Wharf, child sex offences, and a violent assault on a transgender couple in Eltham.

Kidnapping for ransom

Brothers Bilal and Zachariya Rakik, from Beckenham, were sentenced to over seven years each for kidnapping a man. The pair lured their victim to Lewisham High Street using a fake dating profile, believing him to be wealthy. They threatened to kill him unless a £30,000 ransom was paid. When the victim stated he had no money, the brothers accessed his phone and contacted four friends to demand the ransom. After holding the man captive for five hours and driving him around south-east London, armed police intervened and rescued him in Ladywell. Bilal, 28, and Zachariya, 26, initially claimed they were forced into the plot but later abandoned this defence.

Attempted rape in Canary Wharf

Syed Imam, 30, of Croydon Road in Beddington, was sentenced to six years in prison for attempted rape. The incident occurred in the early hours of March 14 in an underpass near Canary Wharf station. Security staff observed Imam acting suspiciously and intervened when they witnessed him assaulting a vulnerable woman. They detained him and alerted the police. Imam was found guilty of attempted rape following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Detective Constable Madeleine Powell stated that the intervention by security staff was crucial in preventing further harm to the victim.

Extended sentence for child rapist

Liam Ross, 30, from Dartford, had his prison sentence extended to 15 years for sex offences against girls, including the rape of a 12-year-old in Bexley. Ross, a coach driver, was convicted of ten offences. He had initially been jailed for 12 years, but his sentence was increased following intervention by the Attorney General. Ellie Reeves MP welcomed the decision, describing Ross as a sexual predator. At his first sentencing, Judge Ruth Downing had accepted Ross's claim that he believed the girl was older, but noted that rape of a child under 13 is a strict liability offence. Indecent images of children and recordings of offences were found on his mobile phone.

Attack on transgender couple

John Mongan, 24, of Noak Hill in Romford, received a three-year prison sentence for a brutal attack on a transgender couple in Eltham. The incident took place on Baring Road on April 18. Woolwich Crown Court heard that Mongan shouted abuse at the couple from a van. When one of the victims took a photograph of the van, Mongan repeatedly punched him before attacking the woman when she intervened. He bit her and attempted to pull her dress down before fleeing. Mongan had threatened that he had machetes in the van. Both victims were taken to hospital with significant injuries. In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed fear for her safety, stating that harassment is increasing.

Drug dealing conviction

Navid Jamshidi, 33, from Eltham, was convicted after police found texts advertising cocaine on his phone during a stop and search. Officers stopped his Land Rover in St Paul's Cray on June 19 and found an empty snap bag, £300 in cash, and multiple phones. One phone was identified as the 'Nige' drugs line, used for selling cocaine across south east London. Jamshidi was reportedly out of prison shortly before his arrest.

What happens next

The individuals sentenced have begun serving their prison terms. Details of any appeals or further legal proceedings are not provided in the source material.