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A Baxenden man has been jailed for sexually abusing two children.

Eoin Kelly, now 29, was a juvenile himself when he committed the offences but one of the victims disclosed in 2020 what had happened.

During the investigation, the second victim came forward with a complaint against Kelly.

Kelly, of Alliance Street, was convicted in June of rape, three counts of sexual assault on a child and four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The Judge sentenced Kelly to two years imprisonment.

Det Sgt Craig Atkinson of Lancashire Police, said: “These were very serious offences committed by Eoin Kelly against two young victims. He was himself a youngster at the time.

“Reports of sexual offences are always taken extremely seriously by Lancashire Police, whether they are recent or non-recent.

“If offences are reported from a number of years ago, we will always investigate fully and attempt to bring offenders to justice.”

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A pervert has been jailed for more than three years for amassing a sick hoard of images portraying child abuse and depictions of human torture.  

Thomas Highet was also charged with importing a child sex doll into the UK but prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea as part of a deal. 

Highet was put on the sex offender register for 10 years and given a five-year prevention order after admitting downloading and possessing the images at his home in Townhead Street, Stevenston. 

The judge placed him on a further sexual offences prevention order on jailing the repeat-offender, adding it was particularly concerning he committed the offences while allowed out on a court order.

The 66-year-old pleaded guilty to taking, permitting to be taken or making indecent images depicting child abuse between May 23, 2021 and June 19 last year.

He also admitted possessing the images at his home between May 2021 and June 23, 2022. 

Highet pleaded guilty to a third charge of being in possession of extreme images between January 18 and June 23 last year, including depictions of the torture and mutilation of a human. 

Highet, who was described in court papers as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, was previously remanded in custody. 

When he returned to court on Monday, November 6, defence agent Brian Holliman said: "This is a case where there is very little for me that can be said, or that Mr Highet wants said. The offences speak for themselves.

"Given his previous convictions he knows a custodial sentence is inevitable and will be of some duration with the gravity of the offences. 

"There is no mitigation to advise in the plea, he has taken responsibility for his conduct."

Sheriff Colin Bissett said: “Mr Highet, for reasons highlighted, this case is of particular concern to the court. You committed these despicable offenses on a court order designed to prevent this type of offending.

"It is particularly concerning that you simply fail to understand what you are doing is wrong.

"It seems no disposal will bring that upon you, and that is somewhat depressing."

He was jailed for a total of 40 months backdated to when he was remanded on January 12.

As part of his five-year sexual offender prevention order he was prohibited from any contact with any child under 16 and banned from public parks and leisure centres.

He will be required to inform monitoring officers of any electronic devices capable of accessing the internet, permit inspection and provide passwords.

He must not delete any internet browsing history, calls or messages and not download software disguising his online activity.

Highet will also remain subject to standard police notification requirements as a sex offender for 10 years.

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A 59-year-old Leven woman who sent a picture of a partially-naked man to his grandmother has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Wilma Thomson was also fined and told to pay compensation when she appeared for sentencing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

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A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a teenager while she waited at a bus stop in Birmingham.

Nazakat Hussain, of no fixed address, denied the allegation but was found guilty of sexual assault by touching and was jailed for six months yesterday (Tuesday, November 14).

The court heard that in August this year, the 15-year-old girl was waiting to board a bus in Bordesley Green with her younger sister when Hussain assaulted her. The girl immediately told the bus driver who called the police and the 44-year-old was swiftly arrested.

Mark Heffernan, Chief Operating and Safety Officer for National Express, said: “Hundreds of thousands of journeys are made safely on our buses every single day and incidents of sexual assault are rare, however we will not tolerate anybody who does not respect the right that everybody has to travel safely, without fear of assault or intimidation.

“Thanks to our driver’s immediate actions to help protect these young girls and the quick work of the police, this man’s arrest and subsequent sentencing sends a clear message that we continue to work closely together to prosecute offenders and make sure that they are brought to justice.”

Inspector Lee Davies from the Safer Travel Police team, said: "We would like to commend the girl for having the bravery to come forward. Her quick actions ensured that Hussain was quickly arrested. 

"Everyone should be able to use public transport across the West Midlands safely and we take offences of this kind very seriously. Hussain showed no remorse and the judge handed out a jail term after he said that he considered the act to be one of a deliberate nature.

"In addition to serving the prison term, Hussain must also notify police of his residence for a period of seven years after his release. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time, restricting any unsupervised access with children under the age of 16."

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A nurse at a mental health unit who embarked on a sexual relationship with a patient avoided jail today.

Jill McLaren, 37, had secret trysts with the man she knew from the secure clinic in Glasgow where she worked. This included her taking him to her home under the guise of an escorted Christmas shopping trip.

McLaren pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the man as she appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The crime spanned between July 2018 and September 2019.

Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas to similar allegations that she was involved with two other patients at the unit.

McLaren, of Greenock, Inverclyde, was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for 18 months. She was also tagged for five months keeping her indoors between 9pm and 6am between Sundays and Fridays.

Sheriff Gerard Considine further stated that the restriction of liberty order will not apply on a Saturday, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve as McLaren is a mum-of-two.

The sheriff said: "There is no doubt this was a gross breach of trust. The law protects people suffering from mental disorders - such conduct was wrong.

"You used a false name to contact him which is an aggravating feature as was the location and the time involved.

"I accept that you have shown remorse and understand such relationships with someone with a mental disorder is unlawful.

"The deterioration in his mental health was significant at the end of the relationship.

"At the time your own mental health was fragile and have since been diagnosed.

"This was such that you should not have been working with people with complex mental needs with your own needs at the time.

"You have been publicly humiliated."

McLaren was also put on the sex offenders register for 18 months.

The court earlier heard how the nurse and the man started frequently chatting about their shared love for fitness.

She then told him she started a shift on his ward in order to "see him" and they began to flirt with each other.

Fiscal Lauren Donnelly said: "She went to get chocolates (in the unit) and he followed her. They began kissing in the cupboard."

The pair agreed that if McLaren wished to speak to him outside of the clinic she should use a different name.

The man was woken up by the nurse one evening during a nightshift as she shone a flashlight into his face. They again went on to kiss before she carried out a sex act in his bedroom.

The court heard McLaren also bought a birthday card for the man.

It read: "Have a great day, wish I could speak to you, half love you ha ha xx".

McLaren went on to go with him on an outing for him to apparently buy Christmas gifts.

But, they instead ended up at her house where further sexual contact occurred.

The man's mother became suspicious of a relationship between the pair and was worried for her son. However, she did not report the matter as there was a possibility he would be moved to a less secure unit.

McLaren left her permanent post at the unit in August 2019 to start another role.

But, she still took several shifts at the clinic and, during one, an argument took place after McLaren suddenly ended the relationship.

However, McLaren later sent another card to the man with "I miss you" written on the front.

The message inside read: "I miss you like crazy. I'm sorry I can't be the one to make you happy. I'm sorry about anything hurtful that I have said, please don't think that I didn't love you, I'm pining after you and it hurts so much."

A staff nurse at the unit later received a phone call asking for the man and recognised McLaren's voice.

Miss Donnelly said: "She became suspicious of this and hit re-dial and recognised the number.

"She checked this against the number of the staff and it matched the one held by McLaren."

The man's mental health deteriorated after he was made aware that the staff knew about the relationship. He later confessed to his lawyer and staff at the unit about what was going on.

McLaren ended up being arrested, but made no comment at the time.

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A "vile" rapist has been jailed for more than six years after an "horrific" attack in Hatfield.

Stefan Keleman, of Campion Road in Hatfield, was sentenced to six years and nine months for raping and assaulting a women, after appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Monday (November 13).

In addition to the custodial sentence, the 46-year-old was handed a restraining order, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and will be deported to Romania when he completes his sentence.

At around 11.30pm on Sunday, June 18, Keleman was involved in a brief conversation with a woman in Asda car park. 

He then followed the woman into the town centre and he punched her in the back of the head before pinning her to the ground.

He then raped the victim while continuing his attack by hitting, punching and biting her.

Keleman only stopped when a police officer arrived.

"Keleman is a vile individual who thought nothing of raping a stranger he had just briefly met. During the attack he continued assaulting the victim by hitting, punching and biting her," said Detective Constable Jarl Thomason, from the constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team.

"This was a horrific ordeal for the victim and I want to pay tribute to her resilience throughout the court case. I hope the result provides some sense of justice.

"I would also like to thank a local resident who saw what was happening and immediately called the police.

"Thankfully incidents like this are rare in Hertfordshire but that does not detract from the trauma that the victim will now have to live with for the rest of her life.

"We are determined to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls and I hope the news of this prison sentence provides reassurance to the public that we are committed to that pledge."

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An utterly depraved Derbyshire paedophile downloaded thousands of horrific images of children being raped while on bail after being arrested twice when officers were alerted to his IP address.

Robert Reeve, 48, was caught with nearly 9,000 of the awful images which showed children from the age of just a few months to eight years old being sexually abused.

Lauren Fisher, prosecuting, told the court one of the category A images showed a very young child being restrained with a gag placed in her mouth.

In another a child was photographed while being duct taped to a bed in tears.

One of the devices Reeve used had internet searches for pre-teen models and kiddie sex, the court heard.

Ms Fisher said Reeves Ripley home was first raided on November 16, 2020, when police were told his IP address was being used to upload indecent images.

While on bail for the first offence officers arrested him again at home on August 16, 2022, for the same offence and then a third time on March 8 this year.

The court heard Reeve, of Alfreton Road, Codnor, had no previous offences on his record.

Reeves barrister said her client, who had already been on remand for eight months, had accepted what he had done.

She said: There appears to have been some denial for some time but he is waking up to the gravity of what he has done.

Judge Shaun Smith KC told Reeve: What you have admitted to is utterly depraved.

"I deal with a lot of images cases and none of them in recent times have sunk to the depths of what you were looking at.

"These really were images of the worst type these are real children being abused for the satisfaction of people like you.

"You didnt stop when police were onto you you were cavalier to say the least.

You didnt appear to be bothered, you just did it again with another device. You just carried on.

Reeve admitted multiple counts of making indecent photographs of children.

He was jailed for two years and nine months.

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A sex offender jailed for assaulting a woman at a gym has been sent back to prison after asking teenage girls to perform sex acts.

Hernando Ferraro-Cordoba, 61, of Thorleye Road, Cambridge, was jailed in January for the assault and banned from loitering at gyms or sport events.

He was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court for breaching the ban and not registering a new bank card.

Ferraro-Cordoba was handed a 14-month jail term.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) - banning him from attending or loitering near any exercise groups, sports facilities, swimming pools and sports events - will also continue until 2030.

Spotted near gym

Following his prison release in March, police were called in July after a man was spotted speaking to teenage girls near Cambridge's YMCA, which has a gym.

Investigations revealed Ferraro-Cordoba had been asking girls to perform sexual acts on him in his car in return for alcohol and a drive.

He was arrested at home the next morning.

CCTV showed him dropping off three teenage girls at the YMCA, and he was also found to have brought flowers for one girl and asked two others to go to a hotel with him, which they refused.

In a police interview, Ferraro-Cordoba denied all the offences, including loitering outside a gym, and claimed one teenager had lied about her age and wanted a relationship.

He denied charges of breaching a SHPO as well as the requirements for the Sex Offenders' Register, by ordering, and not registering, a new bank card.

However, he was found guilty after a trial at Cambridge Magistrates' Court.

Det Con Andrew McKeane said: "Ferraro-Cordoba's behaviour was very worrying, particularly towards teenage girls, with an element of attempted sexual exploitation.

"We would encourage parents or guardians to know the signs of exploitation - which can include going missing, misuse of drugs or alcohol, involvement in offending, emotional distance from family members, receiving gifts from unknown sources and many more.

"This case also highlights the consequences of breaching a SHPO and how seriously it is treated by us and the courts."

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Two disgusting paedophiles from Cornwall shared child abuse images and discussed their warped fantasies. David Podmore, 44, and Mitchell Franklin, 76, even discussed having sex with each other.

Podmore, of Austin Close in Liskeard, and Franklin, of Dobell Road in St Austell, both appeared for sentence at Truro Crown Court having each pleaded guilty to three making indecent images of children charges, distributing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography. Podmore also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

Prosecuting the case, Hollie Gilbery, told the court how in December 2019 police received intelligence than Franklin had uploaded an indecent image of a child exposing their genitals to Facebook. Police went to his house and seized a number of devices which were found to contain indecent images of children.

A second warrant was executed in 2021 and police took away two USB devices found to contain more filth. Also on the devices were a number of chat logs between Franklin and other perverts including Podmore. Franklin was found to have sent sexual videos and images.

Chat logs revealed that Franklin and Podmore discussed their sexual interest in children and even the possibility of having sex with each other. Ms Gilbery described how Podmore was also found to have shared child abuse images.

The attempted sexual communications with a child charge relates to Podmore engaging in a chat with someone believed to be a young girl in which he sent pictures of his penis and suggested they meet for sex. In mitigation it was heard that both defendants were of good character and remorseful. Judge Simon Carr said that the case had "all the hallmarks of a serious epidemic of people consuming legal pornography and then moving into other areas".

He added: "The courts view these offences as extremely serious. What you did was abhorrent. This business exists because of people like you who view images of children being raped and abused. Around the world tens of thousands of children are being raped. They are raped because of people like you who feed the industry."

Judge Carr noted the mitigation of both defendants and said society is best served by them being treated and their perversions addressed. Both defendants were given 18-month sentences, suspended for two years. They must both complete a rehabilitation activity requirements and be subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

Two disgusting paedophiles from Cornwall shared child abuse images and discussed their warped fantasies. David Podmore, 44, and Mitchell Franklin, 76, even discussed having sex with each other.

Podmore, of Austin Close in Liskeard, and Franklin, of Dobell Road in St Austell, both appeared for sentence at Truro Crown Court having each pleaded guilty to three making indecent images of children charges, distributing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography. Podmore also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

Prosecuting the case, Hollie Gilbery, told the court how in December 2019 police received intelligence than Franklin had uploaded an indecent image of a child exposing their genitals to Facebook. Police went to his house and seized a number of devices which were found to contain indecent images of children.

A second warrant was executed in 2021 and police took away two USB devices found to contain more filth. Also on the devices were a number of chat logs between Franklin and other perverts including Podmore. Franklin was found to have sent sexual videos and images.

Chat logs revealed that Franklin and Podmore discussed their sexual interest in children and even the possibility of having sex with each other. Ms Gilbery described how Podmore was also found to have shared child abuse images.

The attempted sexual communications with a child charge relates to Podmore engaging in a chat with someone believed to be a young girl in which he sent pictures of his penis and suggested they meet for sex. In mitigation it was heard that both defendants were of good character and remorseful. Judge Simon Carr said that the case had "all the hallmarks of a serious epidemic of people consuming legal pornography and then moving into other areas".

He added: "The courts view these offences as extremely serious. What you did was abhorrent. This business exists because of people like you who view images of children being raped and abused. Around the world tens of thousands of children are being raped. They are raped because of people like you who feed the industry."

Judge Carr noted the mitigation of both defendants and said society is best served by them being treated and their perversions addressed. Both defendants were given 18-month sentences, suspended for two years. They must both complete a rehabilitation activity requirements and be subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

A scheming sexual predator targeted a schoolgirl by promising her "the world", including them having "matching cars" and living in a big posh house together.

Ryan Smith called her "hot", "fit" and "perfect" and he spoke of the "amazing things" that they would do together – including "incredible date nights" – but the promises turned into a nightmare for her, Hull Crown Court heard. Smith, 30, formerly of Hull, admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of a child.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said that an investigation began after it was discovered that a girl had been kissing Smith and had gone to meet him. Sexual messages had been exchanged between them. The girl said that they had kissed and cuddled and that they sent pictures to each other.

Smith made no comment to all police questions during interview, but a large number of messages were found that had been exchanged between him and the girl. There were intimate and sexual "grooming" conversations between them.

He encouraged the girl to send explicit pictures of herself to him. He sent her a picture with "I love you" written on an intimate part of his body.

The girl said he had promised her "the world" and he claimed that he was planning "amazing things" that they would do together. However, she added: "I wasn't allowed to tell anyone . . . he didn't want anyone to know."

Her school work had been "made pure hell" because of the problems caused. "My life became unbearable," she said.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that the majority of the contact between Smith and the girl was "by electronic means", but he had now moved to Wales. He had no previous convictions.

"It has been a difficult and shameful thing for him to acknowledge," said Mr Godfrey. "He is the author of his own misfortune."

Smith was now working full-time. "He has not put this young person through the ordeal of a trial. He had that moment of clarity because of that shame," Mr Godfrey added.

"He has made efforts to move on. There were some very unpleasant images that were shared.

"There was talk of kissing and such like and that was the sexual activity that was undertaken by the victim and the defendant. There was talk of having cars and having a house, but not imminent penetrative sexual activity."

Judge John Thackray KC told Smith: "You groomed your young victim. She was no doubt impressionable and no doubt flattered by the messages and communications that you gave her.

"You are 100 per cent to blame for this offending. Your victim was a young girl who bears no responsibility whatsoever for what took place.

"It's clear that your offending has had a profound effect upon this young girl and will continue to do so for many years. She may never fully recover from your offending and may always have trust issues."

Smith was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order. He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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Staff at a coffee shop in Cardiff were terrorised by a stalker who made sexually inappropriate comments at their workplace and followed them after they finished their shifts. On one occasion he followed one of the victims into the staff area and tried asking for her number.

Braham Seraie, 49, was a regular customer at a Caffé Nero store in Cardiff whose victims had been warned by colleagues about his behaviour. He began specifically asking for the first victim to serve him before going on to make comments about her appearance, flirting with her, and trying to make her partner jealous when he was in the shop.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the attention paid by the defendant became more intense and he asked the victim to go to Greece with him, invited himself to drinks with her friends, and asked her what she was doing at the weekend. When he learned it was her birthday Seraie bought her jewellery and put it in her locker. He also followed her outside of work and followed her to a bus stop.

The second victim was also targeted by the defendant who made lewd comments about her and behaved inappropriately. She called him out on his behaviour and called him a "weirdo" but he responded: "I'm just trying to put a smile on your face."

He asked her to come outside the shop and asked for her number and when she went to a staff area to take a break he followed her upstairs, knocked on the staff door, and asked for her number again. Seraie then waited for her in the door of the women's toilets and asked her to go in there with him, which she refused to do. The second victim later described feeling "anxiety and stress" and both of the victims have left their jobs.

Seraie, of Hannah Street, Butetown, was arrested and later found guilty of two counts of stalking. The court heard he had he had previous convictions for sexual assault and harassment and had been made subject to sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.

The defendant refused to attend his sentencing hearing from custody and did not attend his trial. He was also unpresented so no mitigation was put forward on his behalf.

Sentencing, Recorder Alun Eynon-Evans said Seraie still denies the offences and referred to the victims as "liars" in his interview with probation. He said the defendant had said he was suffering with PTSD having claimed to have served in the army in Algeria but noted it was "questionable" if this was true. He said he would give the defendant "the benefit of the doubt".

Seraie was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to restraining orders in respect of both defendants for five years.

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A 52-year-old man from Scarborough has been given a 28-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a sexual offences protection order and sex offender notification requirements.

Daniel Borgers, who is also known as Daniel Jacobs, appeared at York Crown Court on Monday, 13 November where he was also given an indefinite Sexual Offences Protection Order.

Borgers, of Scalby Road in Scarborough, met his victim, a 17-year-old girl through a ‘handyman’ business he had set up, against the direction of his police offender manager, who had told him such a business would be unsuitable for a person with his conviction.

After a relative of the girl found out Borgers was a registered sex offender, they reported the relationship to North Yorkshire Police.

He was arrested and admitted breaching his sexual offences protection order. He also failed to provide information that he was in a sexual relationship, the registration number of a car he was driving, the fact he was working as a handyman and that he had stayed in an address for more than 12 hours with a person under the age of 18-years-old.

The victim appeared in court to give evidence and explained the how the relationship and finding out he was a registered sex offender had impacted different areas of her life.

Investigating Officer PC Belinda Williamson, from Scarborough’s Police Offender Management Unit, said: “This man is an extremely dangerous individual who used a job forbidden by police to befriend a 17-year-old girl. The relationship quickly became sexual and has had a lasting impact on the victim.

“Not only did he actively lie and say he was unable to leave the house due to his mental health, he was living a secret life, running a handyman business and having a relationship with a vulnerable young girl.

“His deception prevented police from speaking with the girl and informing her of his previous convictions, which would have given her the opportunity to decide whether she wanted to continue the relationship or not.

“I would like to praise the victim for her strength throughout the investigation and giving evidence in court.

Record details

A man from Marlborough has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a rape that he committed almost a decade ago.

Robert Miles, 37, of Rabley Wood View, Marlborough, was sentenced this morning (Monday) at Swindon Crown Court after being found guilty by jury at trial in September.

In 2014, Miles assaulted his victim in a private house. It took her five years to get the courage to report the crime to the police, and the events of that night have had a lasting effect on her.

In a victim impact statement she said: I have, at all time, low self-esteem. I feel my quality of life has been greatly impacted in many ways by what Robert has done to me.

Detective Constable Clare Sylvester-Wyness said: Its been a long and gruelling time for the aggrieved person in the case of Miles.

The trial has been set four times previously but has been rescheduled due to the covid pandemic and the barrister strike. I would like to thank her for her bravery and courage to seek justice.

We would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to come forward and tell someone, even if the offence took place some time ago. We understand it can be difficult.

You might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it, but we have trained officers and partner organisations that are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can.

Importantly, your information could help us bring the offender to justice and make sure you, and other people in a similar situation, are kept safe.

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A National Crime Agency investigation found that Samuel Ward, 27, from Newmarket, Suffolk, approached victims on social media and offered to send large amounts of money in exchange for explicit images.

The investigation began with a report from a 17-year-old girl in Florida to U.S. law enforcement, who passed information onto the NCA.

She was contacted by two Instagram accounts in May 2020, offering a “weekly allowance” of $500 for sexual images and videos of her.

An additional message from one of the accounts said “well just to prove I have the funds”, and was accompanied by a doctored image of a bank account showing a balance of £98,606.80.

It then directed her to send increasingly explicit photos, but the user never revealed their true identity nor transferred any money to her.

NCA investigators identified Ward as the person controlling the two Instagram accounts, and discovered that he had proposed online ‘sugar daddy’ arrangements to a further 40 women and girls – 33 of whom were in the UK, with six in the U.S. and one in Ireland.

Many rejected the proposal, however officers identified 18 victims of his scam in total, including four aged under 18.

He approached multiple victims at a time on platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and Tinder from 2019 to 2021, employing the same method of offering money for explicit images and often sending them the same fake image of his account balance.

One 23-year-old victim was offered £3,000 by Ward in return for what he described as “non-explicit” images.

He mocked up an image of a transaction receipt showing £3,000 sent from his account to hers, and she began sending Ward the images and videos he requested.

However, upon checking her bank statement it displayed a payment for £3 sent by Ward. When she queried him on it, he replied, “3? I didn’t send 3, I sent £3,000”.

Another victim, aged 17 and known to Ward, reported to police that he had coerced and pressured her into sending a total of 57 indecent images between November 2019 and March 2020.

Chat logs on iMessage obtained by investigators revealed her nervousness to send the images, to which Ward responded with statements including, “I have needs” and “if u loved me u would have made some kind of effort”.

To counter her reluctance he offered £10,000 for ten photos. After sending him the images he demanded, she asked for the money and he sent her £1 to prove he would pay her, but never paid the full amount.

Following his arrest, NCA investigators reviewed Ward’s bank statements which showed he was in his overdraft for the entirety of his two-year offending period, and confirmed he had made the £3 and £1 payments.

Ward pleaded guilty to 19 charges in April 2023, including fraud, possession of an article for use in fraud, making indecent images of children and malicious communication.

He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court today [13 November] and a judge sentenced him to 30 months in prison and handed him a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Adam Priestley, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “Ward relentlessly targeted teenage girls and young women online with promises of payments he never intended on sending, nor had the means to do so.

“I would like to commend the victims who assisted our enquiries, including the 17-year-old from the U.S. who first reported Ward’s offending to the police. Her brave actions led to an international investigation that has seen Ward brought to justice, and identified many more victims of his abuse.

“At the NCA we are committed to catching offenders who pose a threat to vulnerable people in the UK, and this investigation shows how we work with partners around the world to tackle serious online criminality.

“We urge anyone who has been pressured or deceived into sending sexual images online to report it to the police. You are not alone, and there is always help available.”

The NCA’s CEOP Education programme supports parents, carers, children and professionals to ensure young people have safe and positive experiences online.

Anyone being pressured or threatened into sending sexual images or videos online should remove themselves immediately from the conversation, not respond further to any contact, and report the matter to police or a trusted adult.