A teenager accused of a vast ‘catfishing’ enterprise involving the targeting of multiple child victims who were allegedly blackmailed into sending indecent images, has been returned for trial.
The accused, who cannot be named at this time, appeared for a committal hearing on a total of 61 charges, comprising 36 counts of possessing indecent child images, four of possessing prohibited child images, three of blackmail, five of child sexual communication, six of encouraging the making of indecent child images and two of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
There are also two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images and single counts each of attempted child sexual communication, as well as incitement and distribution of indecent child images.
The alleged victims are all male children, some of whom the accused is alleged to have blackmailed.
Offending relates to two separate times, the first being uncovered in March 2022 and it is alleged while this was under investigation the second set of offences occurred between April and July 2023.
A prosecuting lawyer told Dungannon Magistrates’ Court there is a case to answer which was agreed by District Judge Francis Rafferty.
The accused spoke only to confirm his identity and that he understood the charges against him.
He declined to call witnesses or give evidence on his own behalf at this stage in proceedings.
Judge Rafferty remanded him on continuing bail of £500 bail with a surety of £500 to appear for arraignment at Dungannon Crown Court on December 17.
In addition, the accused was ordered to reside at an address approved by police and is banned from all access to internet-enabled devices and phones.
He must have no contact with the alleged victims nor any children unless approved by Social Services.
When the case first reached court a detective sergeant explained a report was received from Greater Manchester Police in July last year after the mother of an 11-year-old boy found suspicious messages on his phone.
The profile claimed to be a 12-year-old girl and the messages began with discussions around PlayStation games but then became “sinister, with sexual content”.
The mother obtained the profile number and on ringing it, quickly established it was not a 12-year-old girl.
Police ascertained the number was the accused who was on bail while enquiries into similar allegations were underway.
The detective said once made aware of the new allegations police attended the accused’s home to arrest him, however he “threw himself over the banister of a staircase in an attempt to flee then assaulted three officers”.
His phone was seized and a number of indecent images were recovered of the victim.
There was evidence of engagement with other children and some images obtained have been distributed.
It emerged the accused sent the boy a £20 voucher for a PlayStation game in return for sexual images.
In other messages, he blackmailed the alleged victims by threatening to kill himself if images weren’t sent.
He also claimed to have cancer and discussed having sex with other young people.
The detective said: “He has now come to attention a few times for this sort of crime, commonly known as catfishing, which is very compulsive behaviour and a vast enterprise.
“He lived with his parents under bail conditions, but this didn’t stop him. While on bail he set himself up a new profile claiming to be a 12-year-old girl. The messages show a high level of coercion and exerting of pressure on some of the most vulnerable in society.”
While police opposed bail it was granted in very strict terms with an interim ban imposed on reporting the accused’s identity due to concerns for his safety.
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