Radical teen jailed after stalking schoolgirls

A former Army cadet with an extreme hatred of women has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after he terrorised two girls, leaving them in "constant fear".

Dihan Rahman, 19, posted personal details of the girls and a teacher online during a stalking campaign. He also collected bomb-making videos, photographed himself making a Nazi salute and holding a rope noose.

His electronic devices and notes revealed a "mixed" ideology encompassing the extreme right-wing, Islamic State, Incel and hatred of women, Prosecutor Serena Gates KC told the Old Bailey.

Rahman, from Southall, west London, pleaded guilty to three counts of stalking and three counts of possession of indecent images.

On the second day of his trial, Rahman also admitted three charges of possessing documents useful for terrorism.

They included a pipe bomb tutorial and a video on how to make explosives.

On Wednesday, Judge Simon Mayo KC said Rahman's acts had not been a case of "poor judgment".

"Much of the behaviour was planned, concealed, and persistent...it occurred over a prolonged period."

His stalking, which included making malicious professional complaints against the teacher, was "persistent, calculated and highly intrusive," Mayo said.

Judge Mayo added: "The impact of your stalking was severe and enduring. The two young women lived in constant fear, altered daily routines, withdrew socially and restricted online activity.

"No sentence I can pass will remove the anxiety, fear, and psychological harm which you caused your victims."

The court heard that the girls' education suffered and their school prom had to be relocated twice because Rahman had threatened to ruin it.

They attended his sentencing and made victim impact statements from behind a screen.

One of them said: "I used to have a large social circle however because of this I am more cautious about the friends I have."

The judge noted the defendant's autism spectrum disorder, emotional immaturity and social isolation, but said none of these factors excused his behaviour.

Previously, the court heard that in 2023, Rahman attended a new school and an Army cadet programme.

When one of the girls rejected Rahman's advances, he began sending them both abusive messages.

The female teacher was targeted after she tried to intervene in his behaviour towards the girls, the court heard.

She later saw a photograph on the defendant's phone of him in cadet uniform holding a noose and another image threatening a "Valentines school shooting", the court was told.

Another picture showed Rahman in Army uniform with the words "kill yourself", images of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, beheadings and dead bodies, as well as depictions of violence against women.

Rahman had also been a "trusted" administrator of an extreme right-wing network on Telegram having pretended to be a white youth, the court heard.

After his arrest in March 2024, he was bailed on condition he stayed away from the girls, which he failed to do.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "This case is yet another example of a growing and concerning trend of young people being drawn into extremist, violent and terrorist ideologies – principally from what they are exposed to and consuming online.

"Rahman's actions towards his victims – two of whom were teenage girls – were completely unacceptable and I want to praise their incredible courage and resilience throughout this whole ordeal."

As well as his jail term, Rahman was given an extended licence period of three years.

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