RYAN CAMPBELL FROM KIRKDALE SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR ONLINE OFFENCES INVOLVING NAKED PICTURES AND HACKING

A resident of Kirkdale, Ryan Campbell, has been handed a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty of serious online criminal activities that included hacking into a victim’s Snapchat account and distributing explicit images of her to her family and friends. The case was brought before Liverpool Crown Court, where Campbell, aged 22 and living on Smith Place in Kirkdale, admitted to multiple charges, including hacking, harassment, and the unauthorized sharing of sexual images.

The sentencing occurred on a Friday, following an extensive investigation conducted by local police authorities. The court’s decision not only resulted in Campbell’s imprisonment but also imposed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). This order is designed to restrict his future online activities significantly. Under the terms of the CBO, Campbell is required to grant access to Merseyside’s Cyber Dependent Crime Unit for inspection of his internet history at any time deemed necessary. Furthermore, he is prohibited from creating new social media accounts without prior notification and approval from authorities. Any breach of this order could lead to additional imprisonment, emphasizing the seriousness of his restrictions.

Campbell’s criminal record extends beyond this incident. In September 2020, he was convicted of coercive behaviour, malicious communications, and misuse of computers. Although he was released on licence, he reoffended in December 2021, which resulted in his return to prison. He is now mandated to serve the remaining portion of his previous 20-month sentence, compounding his legal troubles.

Detective Inspector John Black addressed the court and the public, underscoring the police’s stance on such conduct. He stated, “The punishment handed to Campbell shows that we simply will not tolerate such vile harassment towards women. People like Campbell think that the internet will give them anonymity to make threats and ruin lives – but not on our watch.” Black also expressed appreciation for the bravery shown by the victim in coming forward and encouraged others who may be suffering similar online abuse to report these crimes. He assured victims that they would receive support from trained officers dedicated to handling such cases.

Authorities further emphasized the importance of cybersecurity measures, such as strong passwords and two-factor authentication, to protect online accounts from hacking and misuse. They recommended consulting resources like the National Cyber Security Centre for additional advice on safeguarding personal digital information.