A man who posed as a medical professional and performed illegal and unsafe circumcisions on baby boys and young children has been jailed for nine years.
Mohammed Alazawi, 54, from Ilford, was convicted of 40 offences including fraud, wounding with intent, administering and supplying prescription-only medication, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to 20 charges and was found guilty of a further 20 following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The offences took place between October 2016 and January 2022 across various locations in the UK, including Birmingham. West Midlands Police launched an investigation after a child in Birmingham suffered complications following one of Alazawi’s procedures. The investigation later uncovered numerous other victims, some of whom are now living overseas.
Alazawi carried out non-therapeutic male circumcisions despite having no medical training. Although male circumcision is unregulated in the UK and not required by law to be performed by a registered medical practitioner, Alazawi misled parents into believing he was a qualified doctor. As a result, they unknowingly gave consent for dangerous and harmful procedures.
Detectives from the Public Protection Unit discovered that the procedures were carried out in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, causing infections and long-term harm to several of the children involved. This made the procedures unlawful.
Detective Inspector Neil Hunt, who led the seven-year investigation, said:
<span;>> “This was an extensive and lengthy investigation but at its heart was our determination to get justice for the families involved and to safeguard children from a man who was not qualified to carry out medical procedures.
“He pretended to be a doctor, but his actions amounted to wounding. Some of his young victims suffered serious complications, and it was only due to the bravery of families – some as far away as Canada – that we were able to bring him to justice.”