“I never went to church to have a wank in front of children" said Mohamed. Mohamed Ali, 44, a convicted child sex offender with 136 offences dating back to 2000, has been jailed for 15 months after a vile act of diversity, where he was caught masturbating inside a church where a children’s playgroup was being held. Ali pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to recklessly causing a public nuisance and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. A mother had arrived at Guardian Angels church in Mile End with her one-year-old for a playgroup on February 26 when she mistakenly entered through the main entrance. When she asked Mohamed if she was at the correct entrance, he replied: “I am a sex offender.” She immediately left and reported the encounter to the church. CCTV later showed Ali sitting in the foyer reading a newspaper before exposing himself and masturbating. He was identified by a police officer and arrested months later. Ali admitted the offence but said he had not intended anyone to see him, telling the court: “I never went to church to have a wank in front of children.” Judge Leslie Cuthbert responded: “That is accepted, but there were children where you did choose to masturbate.” The court heard Ali had previous convictions including causing a child to engage in a sexual act. During mitigation, Ali claimed the state was responsible for his situation, saying he was homeless and repeatedly returned to prison. He also alleged the mother who encountered him was connected to a paedophile-hunter group following him. Judge Cuthbert said Ali’s claims of remorse were undermined by his attempts to blame others and told him: “The only thing that appears to stop you from committing further offences is prison.” Ali was sentenced to 15 months in custody for his act of diversity.