ASHLEY ALLEN FROM CARNOUSTIE SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY ONLINE CRIMES IN ENGLAND

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predators, Ashley Allen, a 25-year-old man from Carnoustie, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple serious offenses related to the exploitation of young girls through social media platforms. The case, which spanned over three years, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that targeted vulnerable minors across various online channels.

Allen’s criminal activities came to light after a police investigation uncovered his extensive involvement in blackmailing and coercing young girls into sending explicit images. He employed the tactic of creating fake online identities to lure girls aged between 13 and 15, engaging them on popular social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram, KIK Messenger, and Snapchat. Under the guise of being an older, attractive male, Allen initiated conversations with these minors, gradually escalating the interactions to demand explicit photographs.

One of the most alarming incidents involved Allen blackmailing a girl by sending a screenshot of their private conversations to another girl at her school. This act of intimidation led to the victim sending a topless photo, which Allen then shared with her classmates. The images circulated among students until school staff intervened and contacted law enforcement authorities. The police investigation traced the images back to a computer registered at Allen’s residence in Carnoustie, Angus.

Further probing revealed that Allen’s offenses extended over a period from 2012 to 2015. His first known victim was a 13-year-old girl he contacted via Twitter, pretending to be an 18-year-old from Edinburgh. He convinced her to send explicit images of herself touching her body through KIK Messenger. His second victim, aged 15, was engaged in daily conversations over two weeks on KIK under the alias Ashley Adams, during which she sent approximately 40 sexual images of herself.

The third girl, aged 14, was approached through Instagram. Allen, who was overweight and bearded, had set up a profile claiming to be a muscular 15-year-old from Surrey. The two exchanged up to 500 messages daily via Blackberry Messenger, during which Allen professed his love and discussed the possibility of meeting for sex. Initially, the girl hesitated due to feeling insecure but was eventually coerced into sending around 20 to 30 explicit images, along with sexually explicit videos.

Allen’s predatory tactics extended further when he targeted a schoolmate of the third victim. Through Snapchat messages, he began threatening her until she complied and sent images. He then threatened to spread rumors about her losing her virginity and called her derogatory names. Over two days, he also threatened to contact her 13-year-old sister unless she sent topless pictures. Allen subsequently shared these images with the third victim, who forwarded them to friends at her school. The images circulated widely until teachers and police intervened, leading to the arrest.

Law enforcement officials executed a raid on Allen’s home in Carnoustie on January 30 of the previous year. When officers forced entry, they found Allen hiding under a table after he had locked himself in his room. During questioning, Allen admitted to speaking with a girl on Facebook who claimed to be over 18 but was actually under 16. A forensic examination of his devices uncovered 430 indecent images and 38 videos depicting children.

Allen was charged and pleaded guilty to four counts under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act, along with two charges related to the possession and downloading of indecent images of children. His defense solicitor, Sarah Russo, stated that Allen lives with his brother and leads a relatively sheltered life, acknowledging his guilt and the fact that the images involved minors under 16 at the time.

In sentencing, Sheriff Gregor Murray condemned Allen’s actions, describing him as a “dangerous, predatory individual.” He sentenced Allen to two years and seven months in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. The sheriff emphasized the calculated nature of Allen’s crimes, noting his use of detailed planning, deception, and threats to manipulate his victims, and warned that such behavior poses a significant threat to the safety of young people online.