Former senior policy advisor to Barack Obama's White House who flew from New York to Britain to 'rape a nine-year-old girl' is jailed for 11 years

A former senior policy advisor to the US government who flew to the UK to have sex with a girl who he believed to be nine-years-old has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years.

International investment banker Rahamim Shy, 47, travelled to Bedfordshire from New York in February 2024 to have sex with the girl following more than a month of planning.

This followed correspondence with an individual describing herself as 'Debbie', the girl's grandmother.

However, unbeknown to Shy, the girl did not exist and 'Debbie' was in fact an undercover officer with Bedfordshire Police.

Shy, a US citizen, who lives in New Jersey, worked for the White House under president Barack Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Using an online forum and later messaging apps, Shy described in acute detail the disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl and that he was fully prepared to travel to England to do so.

He described the girl's age of nine as a 'tad late' to start sexual activity, and that it was an 'honour' to be considered 'her first'.

Shy travelled to England on February 23 2024 through Gatwick Airport before driving to Bedford where he met the undercover officer and was promptly arrested.

Before his trial, the defence argued that Shy was in the USA at the time of the messaging, therefore was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution. 

However, prosecutors with CPS Thames and Chiltern successfully argued that English courts have jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad that are intended to result in criminal offences in England. That defence was subsequently abandoned.

During his trial, the prosecution used extensive digital and physical evidence to prove Shy's intent to commit sexual offences against the girl.

His depraved messages were laid bare, as were recorded voice messages and calls. He also attempted to erase messages on a specific messaging app shortly after arriving in the UK.

On arrest, officers located cuddly toys and condoms within Shy's luggage. The prosecution argued the items demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her.

Crucially, the prosecution succeeded in putting forward bad character evidence to the jury which revealed messages on Shy's phone in which he discussed with others his sexual interest in children.

Indecent images of children were also found on his phone.

Following a trial at Luton Crown Court, Shy was found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence - namely rape and possessing indecent photographs of a child.

He was sentenced on the same day to a total of 11 years and six months' imprisonment.

Lorraine Telford, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.

'It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child.

'The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.

'All children have the right to feel safe and protected and I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working closely alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit children.'