A National Crime Agency investigation has led to a man from West Sussex pleading guilty having targeted girls as young as 12.
Jordan Croft's 65 offences related to 26 victims who were aged 12-22, who he forced to send photos and videos of them performing sexual and other degrading acts on themselves and others.
He looked for them in chatrooms with the National Crime Agency revealing he had been in contact with over 5,000 people on one platform.
Croft sought out young girls on online chat platforms with the aim of dominating and controlling them. NCA investigators found that he had been in contact with over 5,000 people on one platform alone.
He was arrested in September 2019, after identifying him as the man behind various usernames which featured in reports of online abuse.
These were filed by several police forces in England with the offences dating back to April 2018.
Croft was charged in June 2022 and has now pleaded guilty to all 65 counts at Lewes Crown Court and will be sentenced in November.
Martin Ludlow, senior investigating officer at the National Crime Agency, told the NCA website:
“Jordan Croft is a prolific offender who has caused heart-breaking suffering to many victims and their families.
“The sexual depravity he consistently displayed during this abuse of both young female children and adults is horrific.
“Like many offenders Croft thrived on the power he was able to exert over the victims. He sought the feeling of control and obtained it by deceit and abuse.
“He showed no compassion for the victims, pushing them to breaking point and issuing threats, even when they begged him to stop.
“I commend these young women who have shown such bravery in speaking out against him.
“Croft is an example of an adult sexual offender who deploys plausible online profiles to hide their real identity and exploit children.
“We know children are increasingly sharing personal material on social media sites, but I urge them be aware of the hurt and long term damage manipulative offenders like Croft cause, and to think carefully about who they may be communicating with online.
“The NCA will continue to pursue the most serious offenders, including those who believe they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet to abuse children. Like Croft they will be brought to justice."
Picture from the National Crime Agency website.
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