MAN JAILED FOR 18 YEARS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA RAPE CAMPAIGN
A man who was previously in training as a soldier carried out a series of sexual assaults against a woman by creating false social media accounts and manipulating her into sexual encounters has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.John-Lee Osborne, aged 27, bombarded the victim with over 4,000 messages from four fictitious identities he had created, over the course of three months.
He convinced her that failure to comply with his demands would result in her being kidnapped, assaulted, raped, and imprisoned.
During his trial at Bristol Crown Court, Osborne, a former trainee sapper in the Royal Engineers, was found guilty of 15 counts of raping the woman.
Judge Mark Horton handed down an 18-year sentence, plus five years on licence, describing the offences as ruthless and disturbing.
The judge commented, “This case marks a very troubling development in the misuse of social media,” and pointed out how Osborne employed various online platforms, including dark web services, to manipulate and control his victim, bullying her into submission and blackmail.
The court was told that Osborne posed a danger to others, with his actions described as deliberate, calculated, and malevolent, creating a false sense of threat that made the victim believe she would be harmed if she refused.
The court also noted his earlier convictions for assaulting his mother and harassing a teenage girl online.
After sentencing, police spokesperson DCI Tom Herbert emphasized Osborne’s deceitful methods, which exploited the victim’s trust and convinced her she was in imminent danger, ultimately forcing her to comply.
The victim has called on others to speak out, reassuring them that “you are not alone; there is always someone ready to support you,” and encouraging people to report sexual abuse without fear.
