MAX HOLLINGSBEE OF LURGAN SENTENCED TO OVER FIVE YEARS FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST TEEN GIRLS

A 21-year-old man from County Armagh, Max Hollingsbee of Orient Circle in Lurgan, has received a sentence of five years and two months for a series of serious online sexual offences involving teenage girls. Hollingsbee pleaded guilty to 42 charges across two indictments related to crimes committed against 14 young women and girls. His criminal activities mainly consisted of online catfishing, where he created false identities to deceive and manipulate victims, often extorting explicit images—a practice known as sextortion.

His offences took place from 2021 to 2023, when he was aged between 17 and 19. He used various social media platforms, including Whizz, Snapchat, and Instagram, to establish contact with victims before blackmailing them into sending nude pictures. In some cases, he hacked into the victims’ social media accounts to obtain additional illicit content. Authorities discovered thousands of images and videos depicting underage girls engaged in sexual acts, some achieved through hacking, while others were directly sent by the victims. Hollingsbee trafficked these images online, negotiated payments, and blackmailed buyers to obtain more material.

Investigations also uncovered messages indicating he was communicating with other child predators across different countries, boasting about his collection and threatening victims to remain silent. The activities came to light after victims reported concerns, leading police to search his residence in October 2022 following reports from Surrey Police about a 15-year-old girl he had groomed online. During the search, police found thousands of images and videos of exploited underage girls. Authorities noted that Hollingsbee has an IQ in the top 4%, yet he used his advanced technological skills for malicious purposes.

The case underscores the increasing danger posed by young, tech-savvy predators who exploit social media to groom and blackmail minors. Hollingsbee has been sentenced to serve five years and two months; half of this sentence will be served in prison, with the remaining time on licence. The investigation continues to look into the possibility of additional victims.

Detective Inspector Chris Fleming described Hollingsbee as a "child predator who was financially benefitting from his exploits and inflicted trauma," warning parents that online predators are becoming increasingly young and sophisticated, warning that "not everyone online is who they claim to be."