JORDAN ANDREWS FROM ABERDARE SENTENCED FOR BLACKMAILING TEEN GIRLS IN CRIME SPREE INVOLVING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Aberdare, Jordan Andrews, aged 21, was found guilty of engaging in a series of manipulative and criminal activities targeting young teenage girls through online platforms. The case, which was heard at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, revealed a pattern of deceit, coercion, and exploitation carried out by Andrews, who used social media to prey on vulnerable minors.

It was established that Andrews created a fake Facebook profile, impersonating a 16-year-old boy by using a photograph of a friend. This false identity was employed to initiate contact with teenage girls, initially engaging them in seemingly innocent conversations. However, as the interactions progressed, Andrews’s tone became increasingly sexual and aggressive, pressuring the girls into sending explicit images of themselves.

The court heard that on December 15 of the previous year, Andrews contacted a 15-year-old girl from Aberdare. Over the course of their conversations, which grew more explicit, Andrews expressed a desire to see her naked. His relentless persistence and aggressive tactics eventually coerced her into sending a photograph of herself in her underwear. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe explained that Andrews was not satisfied with just this image and continued to exert pressure, threatening to post the images on Facebook if she refused to send more.

Fearing the repercussions and worried about her mother’s reaction, the girl complied with Andrews’s demands. He then escalated his tactics by demanding she use Skype to record herself performing a sexual act. Despite her fear, Andrews’s persistence persisted until he obtained what he wanted, demonstrating a clear pattern of exploitation and manipulation.

Authorities were eventually alerted, leading to Andrews’s arrest. Initially, police detained the individual whose photo Andrews had used, but further investigation revealed that Andrews had been operating under false pretenses. Through analysis of his computer’s IP address, law enforcement traced the activities back to him. During questioning, Andrews admitted to exploiting the girl and revealed that she was not his only victim. He disclosed that he had persuaded another girl to send him photos and had convinced yet another to perform a striptease, falsely claiming it would help with his depression. He also threatened to tell her boyfriend about the images if she refused.

The court heard that Andrews admitted to possessing a total of 440 images and 36 videos, categorized across various levels of severity. His charges included nine counts of inciting a girl to perform sexual acts on herself, encouraging her to pose naked, and possessing indecent images of children. Prosecutor Cobbe highlighted Andrews’s unhealthy interest in pornography involving young girls and his calculated efforts to manipulate his victims.

Defence lawyer Alexander Greenwood described Andrews as a bright and articulate college student with no prior convictions. However, he expressed concern over how Andrews’s moral compass had become so distorted to justify his actions.

Judge Eleri Rees, the Recorder of Cardiff, sentenced Andrews to two years in a young offender institution. Additionally, Andrews was placed under a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and mandated to register as a sex offender for the same period. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120. In her sentencing remarks, Judge Rees emphasized the gravity of Andrews’s actions, stating, “A 15-year-old girl was induced to do this because of the lies you told about your identity and the threats you made. In effect, you blackmailed her.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from exploitation.