PERVERT BLACKMAILED NEARLY 600 GIRLS ON SNAPCHAT INTO SENDING PHOTOS
A cybercriminal systematically targeted nearly 600 Snapchat profiles to persuade women and girls to send explicit images by threatening to disclose their existing photos to their contacts.Akash Sondhi, who is 27 years old, was responsible for attacking 573 females aged 16 to 25 over a period from 2015 to 2020.
His victims were located throughout the UK, including seven on Merseyside, and also in other nations such as Australia, Hong Kong, and Romania.
His method involved hacking into their accounts and then coercing victims to send additional intimate images under the threat of public exposure of current photos to their friends and family.
Following several reports, police officers from Essex's Cyber Crime Unit executed a search warrant at Sondhi’s residence on Hedingham Road, Chafford Hundred, on March 19 last year.
While some victims have been identified, others are still unlocated.
At Basildon Crown Court on January 5, Sondhi admitted to 65 charges including hacking, blackmail, and voyeurism.
He was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison, subject to a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order, and required to register as a sex offender for ten years.
Detective Sergeant Ian Collins of the Essex Cyber Crime Unit stated: “This is an excellent result for the 573 victims in this case and the Essex Cyber Team.
The sentence Akash Sondhi has received today reflects how much distress he caused to his victims.
