ST LEONARDS MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION AND BLACKMAIL
Anthony Everton, a 35-year-old man from St Leonards, was convicted of multiple serious crimes involving the exploitation and abuse of young girls online.He used emotional blackmail to coerce teenage girls into sending nude photographs of themselves, posing as a teenage boy to gain their trust.
Everton threatened to harm or kill himself if they refused, and once he obtained images, he threatened to send them to their families.
When one girl stopped communicating, Everton went further by posting the explicit images on her grandmother's Facebook page and sending them to her family and friends as a form of punishment.
During the investigation, police recovered images and conversations from his phone, despite his efforts to destroy evidence.
Everton specifically targeted girls aged between 13 and 15, using social media platforms like Snapchat to find and manipulate victims, often threatening harm if they did not comply.
His disturbing behavior included threatening to kill animals and sending indecent images to victims' families, escalating his intimidation tactics.
Everton, who has 18 previous convictions for 33 offences including ABH and outraging public decency, was found guilty of outraging public decency, sexual communication with a child, and making and distributing indecent photographs of children.
Judge Jeremy Gold KC sentenced him to 6 years in prison, with an additional 5-year extension on license, totaling 11 years before he is eligible for parole.
The court recognized Everton's significant vulnerabilities and history of mental health issues, though emphasized he posed a serious risk to the public.
The investigation underscored his persistent efforts to exploit young girls, and measures such as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order were put in place to monitor his activity post-release.
