A PAEDOPHILE has admitted blackmailing dozens of young girls into sending abuse images to him online.
Vile Jordan Croft, 26, of West Sussex, forced children to perform sexual and degrading acts on themselves and other kids.
Croft pleaded guilty to all 65 counts at Lewes Crown Court[/caption]
He was linked to 20 profiles across four different messaging platforms, on which he would intimidate victims as young as 12 to confirm they were entering into his “contract of sexual slavery”.
He would then force them send child sexual abuse images and videos on demand, Lewes Crown Court heard.
He contacted over 5,000 people on just one social media platform, and would punish the victims if they did not meet his demands by threatening to expose them to their family and followers.
One of the warped rules was that they spoke to him on Telegram, an encrypted platform, and send him any photographs or videos he requested.
Croft saved and labelled the abuse his victims sent with a list of their social media followers, as well as their names and ages.
READ MORE IN CRIME
He would pretend to be a teenage boy to befriend the victims, and once he was happy they would follow his rules, he would reveal his true age and confess to being a “catfish” and a “paedo into girls 12-14.”
He would then ask for increasingly depraved and graphic content.
He would also request images and videos were sent in a very short timeframe, further manipulating them by forcing them to ask permission to go to the toilet and inform him when they would be busy, so he didn’t think they were ignoring him.
Numerous police forces had filed reports of online abuse connected to Croft, the court heard.
Most read in The Sun
Once they identified him as the paedophile behind multiple usernames, they arrested him in September 2019, seizing two mobile phones and a USB stick.
The messaging applications were on an encrypted side of both phones where Croft collected the vile material from his child victims.
Even more was discovered on the USB stick which was programmed to ensure all traces of activity were deleted after it was plugged into the computer.
Martin Ludlow, senior investigating officer at the National Crime Agency, who led the investigation into Croft, said: “Jordan Croft is a prolific offender who has caused heart-breaking suffering to many victims and their families.
“The sexual depravity he consistently displayed during this abuse of both young female children and adults is horrific.
‘NO COMPASSION’
“Like many offenders Croft thrived on the power he was able to exert over the victims. He sought the feeling of control and obtained it by deceit and abuse.
“He showed no compassion for the victims, pushing them to breaking point and issuing threats, even when they begged him to stop.
“I commend these young women who have shown such bravery in speaking out against him.
“Croft is an example of an adult sexual offender who deploys plausible online profiles to hide their real identity and exploit children.
“We know children are increasingly sharing personal material on social media sites, but I urge them be aware of the hurt and long term damage manipulative offenders like Croft cause, and to think carefully about who they may be communicating with online.
“The NCA will continue to pursue the most serious offenders, including those who believe they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet to abuse children. Like Croft they will be brought to justice.”
Croft’s charges include multiple counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, blackmail, making unwarranted demands for indecent images of children, intentionally causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.
He was also charged with making more than 900 indecent images of children in categories A-C. Category A images are the most obscene, with a minimum of six years imprisonment for making them.
He pleaded guilty to all 65 counts yesterday at Lewes Crown Court and is due back for sentencing on November 10.
Croft was first charged in June 2022 following authorisation by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), until now he was on bail with conditions.
Heather Wilkinson of the CPS said: “Croft admitted to sexually abusing 26 people and actively sought victims as young as 12 to sexually abuse and exert power over.
“Although he attempted to hide his activity through private networks, evidence uncovered against him included age filters he set on a phone app and the controlling rules he shared.
Read More on The Sun
“This guilty plea means the victims of his abuse will now not be forced to re-live their trauma through a trial.
“Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit has specialist prosecutors to enable us to bring offenders like Croft to justice, helping stop online abuse and extortion, and its devastating impact on victims.”
