A Belfast man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for a catalogue of sex offences against children.
Delivering sentence at Downpatrick Crown Court, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC told David John Andrews, who had pleaded guilty to 130 offences, that he would serve a minimum of 13-and-a-half years, after which parole commissioners would determine when he can be released.
The 55-year-old blackmailed his young victims after posing as a teenage boy on social media and coercing them to send nude photographs. All but one of his 47 victims were children, with the youngest just eight. A PSNI detective said it was clear that David John Andrews’ offending had spanned right across the UK.
Speaking after his sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie said: “On 27th March 2020 the Police Service of Northern Ireland were contacted by Derbyshire Police about reports that a number of underage girls had been groomed online by a man believed to be residing in Northern Ireland using the alias of a 13-year-old boy.
“On the same day, Detectives from our Public Protection Branch identified the home address of 55-year-old David Andrews in Belfast, arrested him and seized a number of electronic devices for forensic examination.Andrews was then interviewed and later charged with a number of child sexual abuse offences, and has been remanded in prison ever since."
She added: “Following his initial interview with police, it became clear that David Andrews’ offending spanned right across the United Kingdom.
“He used the same behaviour pattern every time to groom young girls via Snapchat and Instagram into believing they were in a relationship with a young boy of a similar age. He would then encourage them to send indecent images of themselves, later using these images to threaten, blackmail and abuse them.”
The Head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Unit Catherine Kierans described Andrews as "a dangerous and devious paedophile who abused young children and teenagers online".
"Using the ‘catfish’ method, he pretended to be a teenage boy aged 13 or 14 to target young girls on social media, manipulating and grooming his victims to gain their trust and affection," she added.
"Still pretending to be a young boy, he demanded sexual images and videos from the girls, also sending indecent material to them and recording the abuse. When a girl refused to comply or became suspicious of him, he would become abusive or threaten to send her intimate pictures to her friends or share them on the internet. Andrews carried through on some of his vile threats to send explicit images to his victim’s contacts. On some occasions, he threatened the girls with violence.
"Andrews cowardly exploited the vulnerable. The children he targeted online were understandably deceived by the calculating methods of a practiced and callous sex offender. His actions caused great fear, distress and trauma to the victims, some of whom bravely raised the alarm, ultimately leading to the outcome today.
"In the course of the Police Service of Northern Ireland investigation, officers uncovered Andrews’ sexual abuse of an adult victim, which he has also been sentenced in relation to today. We worked closely with the PSNI, who carried out a robust investigation, working with other police services across the UK, to build this case against Andrews and secure a guilty plea.
“I want to pay tribute to the courage of his victims including those who were prepared to face Andrews down by giving evidence in court, had he not pleaded guilty. This case shows that we work closely with police to pursue and prosecute abusers, whatever methods they use, either offline or online, and wherever they operate."
Ms Kierans warned all those who care for children and young people to be vigilant of the dangers posed by online predators.
"Child abusers will go wherever they can access children, in the online world and the physical world. This case underlines the need for parents and guardians to talk openly to the young people in their lives about these online dangers," she added.
"If you are concerned about any activity, whether online or physical, towards a child, or a vulnerable adult, please report it to police."
Ms Kierans also spoke directly to young people who may be victims of this type of online sexual abuse.
She said: "If you think you are being targeted in this way, you are not alone, and you are not to blame. Please reach out and speak to a trusted adult."
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