CONMEN WHO RAN FAKE MODELLING AGENCY JAILED FOR ONLINE VICTIM HUMILIATION
Two fraudsters caused significant emotional harm to multiple women by distributing private photographs of them online in exchange for money.The victims were unaware of being part of an scam until it was too late to stop it.
Oliver Pendleton, residing on Clwyd Avenue in Abergele, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and to possessing a computer with the intent to gain unauthorized access.
Jason Maguire, from Caradoc Road in Prestatyn, faced similar charges along with 11 violations of a sexual harm prevention order and six counts of creating indecent images.
Prosecutor Rosemary Proctor informed Mold Crown Court that the women were misled by a woman claiming to be Gemma Wright, who purportedly operated a modelling agency called Shining Star.
It was revealed that Gemma Wright was an alias used by the two accused, who falsely operated this agency starting in 2016, and for several years they used this deception to perpetrate their scheme.
The defendants convinced their victims to send explicit photos, sometimes utilizing hired hackers to access private Facebook accounts.
The routine began with the 'model agency' contacting women via social media, claiming they would be paid for images.
One woman was persuaded to send face-only photographs, receiving some payment, but was promised more substantial earnings for sexualized images and videos.
Despite assurances, she only received a small sum from what was supposed to be hundreds of pounds, and she grew suspicious when payments referenced Pendleton.
Another woman was lured through Facebook and tricked into sending over 60 photos, with the promise of payment that was never delivered.
When delays and issues with PayPal arose, she contacted 'Gemma,' who then provided a fake website link, indicating the sophisticated nature of their operation.
A third victim submitted images and an intimate video, but too was never compensated.
The investigation revealed Maguire had been ordered to avoid such conduct after creating indecent images of children in 2016.
Police tracked his online activity, discovering he had violated this order by searching for pornography on websites like OnlyFans and using influence-driven communication methods.
Searches of Maguire’s device uncovered 63 indecent images of children, use of a private browser, and activity on Facebook under the 'Gemma Wright' persona.
He also created two email accounts tied to the fake agency, and contacted hackers via Skype to obtain passwords and access to other women’s social media accounts, exposing their private images.
When victims reported their experiences, Pendleton claimed his Facebook account had been hacked—a defense believed by the prosecution to be an attempt to preempt the investigation.
Maguire admitted guilt early, while Pendleton only confessed fully just before trial.
During sentencing, defence lawyers argued for leniency, citing their clients’ lack of prior convictions and, in Maguire’s case, his first engagement with the court system.
The judge, Niclas Parry, dismissed these requests, condemning the offences as involving deliberate, planned harm to women, and noted the significant distress caused.
The court sentenced Maguire to two years and four months in prison and Pendleton to two years, both receiving lifelong restraining orders to prevent contact with their victims.
The judge underscored that the crimes went beyond financial fraud, involving betrayal and malicious humiliation of women, with the victims suffering mental health consequences.
