Zafer Dogan has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Wood Green Crown Court after covertly photographing women and children and using artificial intelligence software to generate sexualised images.

The 32-year-old was repeatedly granted conditional bail to his flat overlooking a children’s playground throughout the proceedings, despite police and prosecutors warning the courts about the risks he posed. The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service opposed bail on three occasions across several hearings, pointing out that Dogan was being returned to the exact location where some of his offending took place.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kelleher expressed the force's frustration at the repeated court decisions. He explained that officers had identified an offender who moved beyond passive collecting into actively producing illicit material using 'nudify' software, adding that police highlighted those specific risks when challenging the court system to remand him in custody.

The court heard that Dogan captured more than 5,000 photographs of women and children without their knowledge or consent while they were going about their daily routines, with several pictures capturing young children playing on climbing frames.

In total, images of 33 adult women and two children, aged seven and 13, were digitally altered using AI tools to create sexualised content. Dogan admitted multiple offences involving indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and the creation of intimate images of an adult.

Dogan was initially arrested on 16 July on suspicion of child abuse image offences. During that encounter, he freed himself from handcuffs, ran from officers, and threw his mobile phone into a neighbouring garden before being apprehended and having the device seized. He was arrested again on 4 August, charged the next day, and accepted all charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 6 August before remaining on bail.

Victims' families described the severe personal toll of Dogan's actions. The mother of the 13-year-old girl said she felt as if she had been punched in the gut, expressing fear that her daughter's images might remain online. The mother of the seven-year-old said she felt helpless and that their lives would never be the same.

In mitigation, defence barrister Joseph Carr said Dogan recognised the profound seriousness of his actions and acknowledged there was no excuse, telling the court that Dogan had spiralled into depression following the breakdown of a long-term relationship.

Sentencing him, Judge Alexander Jacobs stated that the offences were entirely sexually motivated and so serious that only immediate custody was justified. He commended the bravery of the mothers, remarking that no sentence could undo the harm or restore what had been taken from the families.

Following the hearing, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley criticised the bail decisions, stating that the justice system must put victims first and prioritise children over offenders. Investigating officer PC Natalie Scagliarini described Dogan's conduct as predatory and dangerous.

What remains an ongoing concern for the families and investigators is the extent to which any altered material may have circulated online before devices were seized. I'll be following this case — check back for updates.