MAN GROOMED CHILD ON FORTNITE – AND THEN ABUSE VIDEO WAS LEAKED TO HIS SCHOOL
A court case in Aberdeen involved Michael Chalmers, a 23-year-old man from Bridge of Don, who coerced a 12-year-old boy into performing a sexual act during an online video call.The video was later leaked and shared among school children, prompting a warning to parents about online threats targeting young boys.
Chalmers, who met the child through the online game Fortnite, described the abuse as 'banter' and claimed he believed the victim was about four years older.
He expressed remorse regarding the impact of his actions and the sharing of the video but did not admit to recording or distributing it, as the court was told.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Chalmers, employed in pest control, communicated with the boy via online gaming and never met him face to face.
In January 2022, he instructed the boy to perform a sexual act over a Snapchat video call, threatening to assault him or steal his PlayStation account if he refused.
The boy, fearing violence, complied during the call, which was recorded without his knowledge.
Later, the boy saw the video circulating at school, and police traced Chalmers through his gaming account.
He was arrested at home, admitted knowing the boy, and police confirmed it was his voice instructing the act in the video.
Chalmers pleaded guilty to coercing a child into sexual activity and controlling a minor for sexual purposes during a video call.
His solicitor, Gregor Kelly, apologised for the distress caused, noting Chalmers’s remorse and claiming he believed the victim was older.
The court regarded the offence as very serious, and Sheriff Shelagh McCall sentenced Chalmers to a community payback order with supervision, 150 hours of unpaid work, placement on the sex offenders register for a year, and a non-harassment order preventing contact with the victim for five years.
CyberSafety Scotland’s Annabel Turner commented on the rising risks for boys online, emphasising that such incidents are unfortunately common.
She highlighted that perpetrators often build trust with victims before threatening or coercing them, noting that recent methods have become more sophisticated, including the use of scripted communications.
Turner advised parents to remain vigilant, keep gaming devices out of children's bedrooms, and foster open conversations about online friendships and dangers, stressing that simple precautions and honest dialogue can help protect children from exploitation.
