February 2023 East London man threatened to publish indecent images of child on Instagram and blackmailed women An East London man has been jailed for five years and three months for online blackmail, drug supply offences and distribution of indecent images of children. In 2018 and 2020, George Austin-Bohan, 28, demanded money from two women online, threatening to publish indecent images of a child on Instagram, which he had obtained without the victim’s knowledge. The matter was reported to the National Crime Agency who referred it to the Metropolitan Police and Austin-Bohan was arrested. His electronic devices were seized and upon forensic examination were found to contain digital evidence of the offences. As part of the investigation, evidence was found that Austin-Bohan had also contacted another woman and told her that her private sexual images had been posted online and then directed her to Reddit. Austin-Bohan then pressured the victim to send him more private sexual images in exchange for removing them. In September 2022, a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant was executed at a residential address in the E14 area of Tower Hamlets. Drugs with an estimated street value of £10,000 – £15,000 were seized along with over £7,000 in cash. Austin-Bohan was present with another male, Mustafa Karakaya. Both were arrested at the scene. Austin-Bohan appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (February 24) where he was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for the number of offences. He also received a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years. Austin-Bohan had previously pleaded guilty to the offences and was convicted at the same court on November 10, 2022.