A paedophile who preyed on and groomed “young, vulnerable teenagers” has been jailed.

Ridvan Uruqi, of Trinity Lane, Waltham Cross, was found to have arranged and facilitated the travel of two teenage victims to places in London, in which they were sexually exploited between December 28, 2020, and January 3, 2021.

Following a trial, which lasted 22 days, Uruqi was found guilty of four counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and one count of sexual activity with a child.

An investigation was launched in 2021 after a report from a female who said she had been sexually assaulted.

Uruqi was arrested at the time and charged with six counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, sexual assault on a female and sexual activity with a child.

Appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Monday (November 4), he was jailed for nine years in connection to the four counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and five years for sexual activity with a child, to be served concurrently.

He will also have to abide by a Slavery Trafficking Prevention Order for 15 years.

Detective Sergeant Ayodeji Afolabi said: “Uruqi preyed on young, vulnerable teenagers, grooming and then sexually exploiting them. I would like to commend the bravery and courage of the victims and witnesses for coming forward to the police.

“Understandably, this was a very daunting situation for them, but they have been vital in bringing Uruqi to justice.”