A man from east London has been jailed for online blackmail, drug supply offences and distribution of indecent images of a child.
George Austin-Bohan, 28, threatened to post pictures of a child online which he had obtained without their knowledge.
In 2018 and 2020 he demanded money from two women online, threatening to publish indecent images of a child on Instagram, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
He was also convicted of possessing with intent to supply class A drugs cocaine and MDMA.
In September 2022 a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant was executed at a residential address in Tower Hamlets. Drugs with an estimated street value of £10,000 - £15,000 were seized along with over £7,000 in cash.
Austin-Bohan, from Tower Hamlets, was arrested at the scene.
He was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for three counts of blackmail Malicious communications Distribution of indecent images of children distribution and four drug supply counts.
He was also hit with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years.
His electronic devices were seized and upon forensic examination were found to contain digital evidence of the offences.
PC Lindsey England, investigating officer from the Met’s Central East Command said: “The offences committed in this case are vile and have been truly distressing for the victims. Austin-Bohan used multiple social media accounts in an attempt to conceal his identity and continued to deny his involvement throughout the investigation.
“There has been a considerable amount of investigative effort including vast digital forensic work involved in this case but without the victims’ bravery in coming forward Austin-Bohan could not have been brought to justice.
“I hope that the sentence handed down provides them with a sense of justice and I hope they can put these incidents behind them. Online sexual offences, both against children and adults are damaging in the extreme and I would urge people to report such crimes to police so that they can be investigated. Victims will be listened to and should know that there are many avenues of support available.”
If you have been a victim of crime, you can report this by calling 101 or reporting online at met.police.uk
Information can also be reported anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
Advice and support around online child sexual abuse and exploitation can be found via the CEOP website at ceop.police.uk
