When Syed Shahreear Ahmed was jailed for sexually abusing teenage girls in 2025, the case was far from over. Detectives kept examining his phones, uncovered 12 more victims and brought the former maths teacher back before a court. He has now received another 10 years in custody, taking his total custodial sentence to 25 years.
At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday 5 November 2026, Ahmed was sentenced for 37 further offences, including rape, sexual assault, grooming-related offences and offences involving indecent images of children. Across his two trials and earlier guilty pleas, the Metropolitan Police say he has been convicted of 56 offences involving 18 victims.
Officers believe there could be other victims who have not yet spoken to police. That continuing appeal is a central part of this case, even after the latest sentence.
The investigation did not end with the first conviction
The original investigation began in May 2023 when two teenage girls independently raised concerns about Ahmed. In one particularly distressing incident described by police, a 14-year-old jumped from his moving car after becoming frightened by his behaviour.
Investigators recovered two mobile phones and worked through hundreds of gigabytes of social media messages, images and videos. Early enquiries uncovered abuse dating back to 2019 and established that he had targeted children across several counties.
Ahmed was initially prosecuted for offences involving six girls. But the examination of his devices continued, even after he was sentenced in September 2025. Specialist detectives from the Met’s Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation team then identified 12 further victims, allowing prosecutors to bring a second case.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kelleher put the point plainly: “Many offenders may believe that once they have been convicted our work stops.”
How Ahmed used fake identities online
According to police and prosecutors, Ahmed posed as a teenage boy on social media, using altered photographs and false profiles to win the confidence of girls aged between 13 and 16. Some abuse occurred online. In other cases he arranged to meet the children and committed serious sexual offences in person.
Ahmed had worked as a secondary-school maths teacher in Essex until resigning following his arrest in May 2023. Prosecutor Claire Brinton said his conduct was especially serious because he had been trained in child safeguarding as part of his work.
The investigation involved the Metropolitan Police working with colleagues in Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent. Their task was not simply to prove offences already reported, but to locate children who might never otherwise have been identified.
Why the sentence is described as 25 years
The sentencing figures require care. In September 2025, Ahmed was given 15 years in custody, with a five-year extended licence period. That was widely described as a 20-year extended sentence, but it did not mean 20 years of imprisonment.
On 5 November 2026 he received a further 10 years in custody and three years of extended licence. Taken together, the custodial terms total 25 years, with eight years of extended licence provisions. The precise time he will actually serve in prison is governed by the applicable release rules and is not the same as the headline custodial total.
Police appeal for anyone else affected to come forward
The Met says anyone who had contact with Ahmed, or who believes they may have information relevant to the investigation, should contact police. Officers say people who come forward will be supported by specialists and treated sensitively.
Reports can be made online through the Metropolitan Police or by calling 101. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger. Those affected by sexual violence can also contact the Rape Crisis England & Wales 24/7 Support Line on 0808 500 2222.
Watch: Metropolitan Police explain the case
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