JOSHUA PROBERT OF GRIMSBY SENTENCED FOR SICKENING ONLINE SEXUAL BLACKMAIL AND ABUSE
In April 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Joshua Probert, a resident of Grimsby, who engaged in a heinous campaign of online sexual exploitation and blackmail targeting young girls and women across multiple countries.The investigation revealed that Probert, a university-educated individual with no prior criminal record, had used the internet to manipulate and coerce over two dozen victims into performing degrading sexual acts, often under threats of public exposure.
Probert employed a range of deceptive tactics to obtain intimate photographs from his victims, which included minors as young as 14.
He then resorted to 'sextortion,' a form of blackmail where he threatened to distribute the explicit material to the victims' families, friends, or on social media platforms such as Facebook.
His victims, hailing from England, Scotland, Wales, the USA, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, described their experiences as akin to 'cyber rape.' One young girl, only 14 years old, confided to the police that she felt 'the most broken teenager right now' after being subjected to his threats and demands.
Despite pleas from his victims to delete the compromising images and videos, Probert ignored their distress.
Some victims were coerced into performing sexual acts on themselves while being recorded, with Probert instructing them to call him 'master' and hold signs claiming ownership of their bodies.
The trauma inflicted was severe, with some victims contemplating suicide due to the fear and shame caused by his threats of sharing the footage.
Further compounding his crimes, Probert shared some of the illicit videos with other online predators, exacerbating the victims' suffering.
His actions extended over a period from January 2014 to November of the previous year, during which he committed a total of 66 offences, including blackmail, creating indecent images, and coercing victims into sexual activities.
Three additional offences were left unprosecuted.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Gary Woodhall sentenced Probert to 12 years in prison, with an additional four years on extended licence.
The judge described how, at the age of 18, Probert, then addicted to pornography, began a disturbing pattern of exploiting young females through social media applications like KIK and Skype.
He would sometimes impersonate females to lure victims, then save their images and personal details obtained from social media profiles to facilitate blackmail.
Judge Woodhall emphasized the sinister nature of Probert’s threats, which aimed to force victims into humiliating acts or to comply with his depraved demands.
The court heard that many victims, especially minors, felt unable to resist and chose to perform the degrading acts rather than face public humiliation.
These acts included humiliating webcam performances and sending explicit images, which Probert stored and used to exert control and dominance over his victims.
The court recognized the significant risk Probert poses to the safety of young females and ordered that he serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
As part of his punishment, Probert was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his internet access and online activities.
Probert, who studied sports sciences at John Moores University in Liverpool and had aspirations of becoming a teacher, was apprehended following an investigation by the North West Regional Cybercrime Unit (TITAN).
The operation, known as Operation Antenna, was initiated after a complaint about sextortion was made to Merseyside police.
Authorities traced his IP address, obtained a search warrant, and raided his home on December 27 last year.
During the raid, Probert initially tried to hide and delete data from his laptop but was eventually found with folders containing numerous images and videos of his victims stored on his devices.
He pleaded guilty to 66 charges, and the court’s ruling reflects the severity of his crimes, which have caused lasting emotional harm to his victims.
The investigation and subsequent sentencing highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online sexual exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from predators like Joshua Probert.
