US adviser who flew to UK to rape child is jailed

A former adviser to the US government who flew to the UK to rape whom he believed to be a nine-year-old child has been convicted and jailed.

Rahamim Shy, 47, travelled to Bedford from New York in February 2024 to have sex with the girl following more than a month of planning.

This followed correspondence with an individual describing herself as 'Debbie', the girl's 'grandmother', who was in fact an undercover officer with Bedfordshire Police.

Shy, of Jersey City in New Jersey, was found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence, namely rape, and possessing indecent photographs of a child, at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday, and was jailed for 11 years and six months.

The court heard how, using an online forum and messaging apps, Shy described in detail disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl and said he was prepared to travel to England to do so.

He described the child's age of nine as a "tad late" to start sexual activity, and said it was an "honour" to be considered "her first".

Shy, who was also an international investment banker, flew from the US to Gatwick Airport on 23 February before driving to Bedford where he was arrested.

Officers found cuddly toys and condoms in his luggage which the prosecution argued demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her.

Shy's phone contained indecent images of children and messages in which he discussed his sexual interest in children, the CPS said.

Lorraine Telford, of the CPS, said: "Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.

"It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child.

"The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference."

Before the trial, the defence argued that because Shy was in the US at the time of the messaging, he was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution, the CPS said.

However, the prosecution successfully argued English courts have the jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad that are intended to result in criminal offences in England.

He was found not guilty of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Shy previously worked as a senior adviser for Pakistan and Afghanistan during the Obama administration.

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