Overview

• Webb groomed a vulnerable woman he met on a Reddit mental health forum over Telegram video calls and coerced her into self-harm and a suicide attempt for his sexual gratification.
• The victim’s recordings of the “dark in nature” exchanges led to her report to Leicestershire Police and Webb’s arrest at his Loughborough home in July 2024.
• His treating clinician cited diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression, prompting the court to impose a hybrid hospital order.
• Webb pleaded guilty in May to encouraging serious self-harm under Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 and to a separate charge of encouraging suicide between June and July 2024.
• Ofcom will begin enforcing child safety rules on social media and messaging platforms from July 25, 2025, reinforcing the new online self-harm protections.