Overview

• The 22-year-old from Wigan was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after admitting 49 offences including rape, blackmail, making and distributing indecent images, and inciting sexual activity with a child.
• At least 41 victims were identified in the case, with the court told that eight remain unidentified and that the offending primarily targeted girls aged 11 to 15.
• Investigators recovered about 4,000 indecent images and videos from his devices, with more than 1,000 classified as Category A, the most serious category.
• Using the persona of a 14–15-year-old named "Josh" on Snapchat, he sent mass messages, offered up to £200 in cash or gift cards for indecent images, then threatened to leak them to coerce further material.
• Two victims were abused in person, including a 12-year-old girl he raped, and evidence showed he continued contact with her while on police bail, according to videos found on his phone.