● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 negative
UK Man Sentenced for Blackmail and Sextortion of 117 Victims as Part of 'The Com'
Key points
- Justin Swaddle, 20, sentenced to two years in prison.
- Convicted of blackmail and sextortion against 117 victims.
- Victims aged 13-17, targeted globally.
- Member of 'The Com' online cybercrime collective.
- Will be added to National Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Sentencing for Online Offenses
Justin Swaddle, a 20-year-old from Leeds, has been sentenced to two years in prison for blackmail and sextortion. The sentencing took place after he pleaded guilty to multiple child sexual abuse offenses and blackmail at Leeds Crown Court on July 2.
Swaddle will also be added to the National Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
Victims and Methods
Swaddle targeted 117 female victims, aged 13 to 17, worldwide. He used platforms such as Snapchat, Telegram, and Discord, operating under aliases including 'Epstein,' 'Rugen,' and 'Moscow'.
He gained victims' trust, collected private information, and then threatened to share intimate images or report them to their schools or parents to coerce them into further sexual activity and self-harm. Investigators found he manipulated victims into sending sexual images and carving his usernames into their bodies. He also attempted to incite a child to sexually abuse a younger child on camera, and hundreds of indecent images of children, some as young as three, were recovered from his devices. Eight of the victims were located in the United Kingdom.
Involvement with 'The Com'
Swaddle was identified as a member of 'The Com,' described as a loose-knit online cybercrime collective. Members of these groups coerce victims into self-harm and sexual abuse to gain status among their peers online.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) took over the investigation in January 2024, following Swaddle's initial arrest by West Yorkshire Police in October 2023.
Law Enforcement Response
Danielle Pownall, NCA operations manager, stated that Swaddle targeted young and vulnerable victims globally to abuse and scare them into self-harm and sexual activity, purely to gain popularity with his peers online. This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to prosecute individuals involved in online child exploitation and cybercrime groups.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Justin Swaddle, a 20-year-old from Leeds, was sentenced to two years in prison for coercing 117 girls aged 13-17 into sexual and self-harm activities using platforms like Snapchat, Telegram, and Discord. This case highlights the ongoing threat of "Com" groups, online communities where members gain status by coercing victims into abuse, a trend authorities in the UK and US have increasingly warned about.
Justin Swaddle, a 20-year-old member of the online cybercrime collective "The Com," was sentenced to two years in prison for blackmail and sextortion offenses against nearly 120 victims. This sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to prosecute individuals involved in online child exploitation and cybercrime groups.