Wollongong boy, 17, facing multiple child sexual abuse charges in ‘sextortion’ court case

A teen boy faces “sextortion” and blackmail allegations involving four female victims aged between 15 and 19. He’s accused of threatening to expose intimate images if they didn’t do what he demanded.

The boy left Sutherland Children’s Court following the mention of his “sextortion” case on Wednesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A schoolboy aged just 17 has fronted court over highly disturbing “sextortion” and blackmail allegations against four female victims.

It’s alleged he threatened to expose intimate images if they did not do what he demanded.

The boy from Wollongong cannot legally be named, however, it can be revealed he faced Sutherland Children’s Court with his parents in support on Wednesday, facing 16 charges.

Documents tendered to court allege the boy used emails, his phone and social media to ask girls aged 15, 16, 17 and 19, to send him intimate images or videos of themselves in September and October last year.

He then allegedly threatened to distribute material.

Sutherland Children’s Court

Police allege he encouraged one girl to carry out a sexual act directed at him and another particularly harrowing allegation involves threatening two girls if they did not masturbate.

He allegedly sent intimate photos or videos to the victims.

Ryde police and the State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad launched an investigation into reports of sextortion and blackmail of a 16-year-old girl on October 19 last year.

The boy was arrested in Gwynneville the same day and taken to Wollongong Police Station.

He was charged with blackmail, threatening to record or distribute intimate image and using a carriage service for child abuse material before being given police bail.

The boy was arrested again on November 22 and further charges laid of using a carriage service to possess, soliciting and transmitting child abuse material, an aggravated offence regarding a private sexual material using a carriage service, demanding with menace with intention to obtain gain and sexual assault by forced self manipulation.

He was refused bail and faced Port Kembla Children’s Court the next day.

The defendant was granted conditional bail to reappear in Sutherland because the magistrate had a conflict of interest.

The court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions would take carriage of the case and prosecute it in children’s court.

The boy’s lawyer Alyce Fisher sought an adjournment to go through the charges with her client.

The court heard police were still investigating the case and indicated more charges could be laid before the next court appearance.

The court also heard psychological and mental health reports would be needed before the case proceeded to sentence.

The teen will remain on bail and the case was adjourned to February 21.