'Predatory' pick-up artist Adnan Ahmed found guilty

Update: Adnan Ahmed's conviction was quashed on appeal after three judges ruled the verdict was a miscarriage of justice

A "predatory" pick-up artist who posted footage of his victims online has been convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Adnan Ahmed - who called himself Addy A-game - was found guilty of five charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Police began an investigation after his behaviour was revealed by the BBC's The Social earlier this year.

Ahmed, 38, had secretly filmed himself approaching dozens of women in Glasgow and in Eastern Europe.

• How a social media film exposed a pick-up artist

• Police investigate 'predatory' pick-up artist videos

The BBC investigation revealed how he had posted footage of the encounters on his YouTube channel, including audio recorded during sex.

Ahmed described himself a dating and lifestyle coach, and insisted that what he did was "educational".

But a number of women gave evidence during the trial that they had been upset and intimidated by his approaches.

Remanding him in custody pending sentence, Sheriff Lindsay Wood said: "These convictions were a course of criminal contact involving young girls who were affected in a variety of ways.

"Two of them were schoolgirls and another was particularly vulnerable. These are of public concern."

Woman gave evidence in court telling how they felt intimidated by Ahmed

Jurors heard how Ahmed approached two schoolgirls in a secluded lane in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, in 2016, when they were aged 16 and 17.

One of them told jurors he called her "pretty" and made her feel "uncomfortable."

She added: "He asked me if I was at school and what I was doing at school.

"He was asking if I had a boyfriend and I said no.

"He asked me if I was married as I was wearing a ring but not on my wedding ring finger.

"I said no and walked away.

"He then asked for my number and wanted to know if I wanted to go for coffee - I said no."

Pushed away

A 21-year-old woman broke down in court when she described how Ahmed followed her through Glasgow city centre in 2016.

The woman said: "He tried to pull me close to him so he could kiss me, so I pushed him away.

"He put his hand on my cheek and other hand on my back and pulled me in.

"He just had pure lust in his eyes."

Adnan Ahmed, appearing here in one of his online videos, claimed they were educational

A 20-year-old woman thought that Ahmed was playing a practical joke on her when he approached her on Glasgow's Buchanan Street in November last year.

She said: "He gave me a compliment and said that I looked like Kim Kardashian."

The woman told jurors that she felt "uncomfortable" and "intimidated" by Ahmed.

He later messaged her on Instagram but she blocked him when he called her "racist" for rejecting his advances.

Lawyer, Donna Armstrong, defending said: "He didn't want to cause anyone fear or alarm."

Ahmed, from Maryhill, Glasgow, was found guilty by a majority verdict.

'Offence and upset'

After the verdict was announced, Police Scotland's senior investigating officer on the case praised Ahmed's victims for coming forward.

Det Insp Mark McLennan said: "The women Ahmed approached were subjected to harassment and were frightened by his unwanted attention.

"I want to pay tribute to the courage of these women in coming forward and giving evidence in order to bring Ahmed to justice, particularly as he appears to have expected them to tolerate his unwarranted and unwelcome behaviour.

"People need to realise they cannot expect their behaviour to be tolerated if it is causing offence and upset.

"I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to this type of behaviour to contact police and report it to Police Scotland."