Crime

Children as young as 11 targeted by sextortion criminals

Published

1 year ago

March 9, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Internet safety experts warn of growing threat

CHILDREN as young as 11 are being targeted by online sextortion gangs for the first time, experts have warned.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has described the trend as “deeply concerning” and said criminals are widening their efforts to trap young victims.

Sextortion is a form of blackmail where victims – often teenage boys, though cases involving girls are rising – are tricked into sending explicit images to fraudsters who contact them via social media and messaging platforms. The criminals then demand money, threatening to distribute the images if their demands are not met.

The IWF reported five confirmed cases last year involving victims aged 11 to 13, out of 175 total cases involving children under 17. While the total was slightly lower than the previous year’s 176, experts say the threat remains serious.

‘Children as young as eight targeted’

Last month, parents at a primary school were urged to check their children’s devices after an eight-year-old girl was reportedly targeted in a sextortion scam.

The school warned that an individual had been impersonating pupils on Snapchat, and police confirmed that an investigation was underway after multiple reports of indecent images being shared.

Tamsin McNally, IWF’s hotline manager, said the organisation had observed a disturbing new tactic used by criminals.

“They are now not only threatening to share images but also making it appear as if the victim is responsible for a sexual crime. This adds an extraordinary level of pressure, making victims more likely to comply with demands,” she said.

Sextortion cases reported in Wales

South Wales Police reported a rise in sextortion cases in 2024, with victims being blackmailed into paying money to prevent explicit images from being shared. Criminals often impersonated acquaintances on social media to manipulate individuals into sending intimate content.

The National Crime Agency also issued an alert to schools across Wales, warning of an increase in financially motivated sextortion targeting children and young people. Organised crime groups were identified as a key driver behind these scams, coercing victims into sending images before demanding payments under threat of exposure.

North Wales Police have since provided guidance on responding to sextortion attempts, urging victims not to comply with demands and to report incidents immediately.

Online blackmail gangs operate globally

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has previously warned that international cybercriminals are running sextortion scams from abroad, with West Africa and Nigeria identified as hotspots for these criminal networks.

Experts believe many children remain unaware that they can remove intimate images from the internet through a dedicated service designed to help victims. The ‘Report Remove’ tool, operated by the IWF and the NSPCC, allows children to anonymously flag explicit content so that tech platforms can take it down or prevent it from being uploaded.

In 2024, usage of the Report Remove tool surged, with 1,142 reports processed – a 44% increase from the previous year. Nearly half of the cases involved victims aged 14 to 15, while 151 of the 175 sextortion cases reported last year came through the tool.

One parent, speaking anonymously, said the service had been a “gamechanger” after their 16-year-old son was targeted by a sextortion gang.

Derek Ray-Hill, interim chief executive of the IWF, said: “These figures show just how ruthless offenders are in targeting our children. There has never been a greater need for services like Report Remove to protect young people from exploitation.”

Parents and children are urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspected sextortion attempts to police and online safety organisations.

Crime

Fence posts thrown into field damage farming equipment

Published

5 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information after fence posts were removed and thrown into a field between Croesgoch and Llanrhian.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the alleged criminal damage happened sometime between Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3.

The posts, which were next to woodland between the two villages, were removed from the ground and thrown into a nearby field.

They later became lodged in farming equipment, causing significant damage.

Police said the area is only accessible via a footpath.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 26*366788.

Crime

Port and Crown Estate join forces to tackle marine fly-tipping in Castle Pill

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Five derelict vessels set for removal as pilot project targets growing safety and environmental risks

A JOINT operation has been launched to tackle marine fly-tipping and the growing problem of derelict vessels in the Milford Haven Waterway.

The Port of Milford Haven and The Crown Estate have teamed up for a pilot project targeting Castle Pill, a tidal inlet connected directly to the main port channel, where abandoned boats and illegally dumped waste have become an increasing concern.

Officials say the presence of derelict and poorly managed vessels poses serious risks not only to the environment but also to maritime safety and port operations, with fears that unsecured boats could break free and drift into the busy navigational channel.

The project will involve monitoring, enforcement, and removal work, alongside preventative measures aimed at stopping further fly-tipping.

At least five derelict vessels are scheduled to be removed from Castle Pill. The Port has warned that the boats are at immediate risk of breaking loose during spring tides, potentially causing disruption and danger if they enter the main channel.

Brian Macfarlane, Harbour Patrol Officer at the Port of Milford Haven, said: “Derelict vessels are a serious and unpredictable safety and environmental risk.

“Unlit and poorly maintained boats can break free, sink, or drift into navigational channels with little warning, endangering crews, disrupting port operations, and threatening the environmentally protected waters of the Milford Haven Waterway.”

Ryan Pratt, Coastal and Leisure Portfolio Manager at The Crown Estate, said the partnership was an important step in safeguarding the coastline.

He said: “Caring for our marine and coastal environment is vital so future generations can continue to benefit.

“This partnership provides a practical, effective response to fly-tipping and abandoned vessels, helping to protect sensitive habitats and the people who depend on safe, reliable waterways.”

The pilot scheme forms part of a wider effort to improve environmental protection, prevent pollution, and ensure the safe management of marine assets across the Milford Haven Waterway.

Crime

Teenager banned from roads after being caught six times over drug-drive limit

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A DOCK teenager has lost his licence after driving his vehicle on the Cleddau Bridge when he was six times over the legal drug-drive limit.

Gethin Moseley, 19, was stopped by officers carrying out random traffic checks on the bridge on January 24. Smelling cannabis emanating from his Mazda, a roadside drugs swipe was carried out which proved positive Subsequent blood tests showed that Moseley had 14 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system, the legal limit being 2.

Moseley, of Milton Terrace, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week. He was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed the Bench that the defendant only uses cannabis recreationally or socially. He has no previous convictions.

Moseley was fined £249 and ordered to pay a £100 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.