CAMILLE LONGSTAFF FROM LITTLE CORBY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE BLACKMAIL IN CUMBRIA

In February 2018, Cameron Longstaff, a 20-year-old man from Little Corby, was sentenced to a year in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offences, including a disturbing attempt to blackmail a 12-year-old girl into sending indecent images of herself. The case revealed a troubling pattern of predatory behavior carried out through online platforms, targeting vulnerable young girls in the Cumbria area.

Longstaff, who resided on Hurley Road in Little Corby, had engaged in a malicious online campaign against two schoolgirls, both aged 12. He used social media under a false identity to contact them, urging each to send explicit images of themselves. When one girl refused to comply, Longstaff threatened to circulate an intimate image he had obtained of her, warning her that he would share it publicly if she did not send more explicit photographs. This coercive tactic left the young victim feeling exposed, frightened, and angry, with her emotional well-being severely impacted.

The second girl, also targeted by Longstaff, was so terrified by his threats that she chose to stay indoors with the curtains drawn, repeatedly asking her parents to lock the doors for her safety. Her mother later described her daughter's ongoing fear, stating, "My daughter was only 12 years old and she was very scared by what happened. We had been an open house until then, but after the incident, my daughter insisted on locking all the doors all the time. She still feels uncomfortable now being at home alone."

During the court proceedings, Judge James Adkin emphasized the seriousness of Longstaff's actions, despite the defendant receiving positive character references. The judge pointed out that the evidence presented at trial painted a darker picture of Longstaff's character, highlighting his interest in child sexual abuse images and his predatory tendencies. The judge remarked, "There is a predatory aspect to this. You felt it necessary to humiliate a young girl because she would not comply with your demands."

Longstaff faced multiple charges, including two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of downloading indecent images of children, one count of possessing such images, and two counts of distributing them. He denied all charges, but the jury found him guilty of all counts after considering the evidence. The court learned that Longstaff had accumulated a large collection of disturbing child pornography, comprising both still images and videos, with 33 of these classified as the most serious category.

It was revealed that most of the offences occurred when Longstaff was just 16 years old. He had used a social media platform under a false name to target the two 12-year-old girls, urging them to share explicit images of themselves. When one girl refused, Longstaff threatened to distribute an intimate image he had of her, which he later sent to a Russian website known for hosting illegal child pornography content.

The impact on the victims was profound. One girl reported suffering from sleep disturbances and declining academic performance, while the other, who appeared in court with her mother, recounted her fear: "I was hiding in the house with all the curtains drawn because the defendant said he would come to my house." Her mother added, "My daughter was only 12 years old and she was very scared by what happened. We had been an open house until then, but after the incident, my daughter insisted on locking all the doors all the time. She still feels uncomfortable now being at home alone."

As part of his sentence, Longstaff will be registered on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any further offenses. The case underscores the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse in digital spaces.