Local man convicted after sustained online abuse of teenage girls
A man from Meanwood, Leeds, has been jailed after a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation found he coerced more than 100 victims, many of them children, into self‑harm and sexual activity using social media platforms.
Justin Swaddle, who admitted a series of sexual abuse and blackmail offences in July, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to two years in prison. Court proceedings also imposed a 10‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required him to sign the National Sex Offenders Register.
- Offender: Justin Swaddle, 20 years old, of Meanwood, Leeds.
- Victims: 117 worldwide, with 8 from the UK; all victims recorded were female and aged between 13 and 17.
- Platforms used: Snapchat, Telegram and Discord, according to investigators.
The NCA described Swaddle as part of a secret online community that operates within otherwise legitimate social media services to groom and abuse vulnerable young people. Officers said the groups — referred to by investigators as "Com" groups — have an international membership and are used to exchange shocking images and to seek status among offenders.
"Offenders and victims are usually in the same groups, and offenders are usually not motivated by money or sexual gratification but by the status and notoriety that comes with sharing shocking content with other members."
Evidence recovered during the probe included hundreds of sexually explicit conversations from devices seized by West Yorkshire Police in October 2023. Investigators identified messages in which Swaddle instructed a 17‑year‑old girl to send nude photographs and to carve his username into her body, and threatened to circulate a sexual video she had made unless she complied.
Swaddle used a number of online aliases while carrying out his offending, investigators say. Usernames recovered from his devices included variants such as Epstein, Rugen and Moscow. The NCA launched a dedicated inquiry into his online activities in January 2024 after the initial arrest and seizure of material by West Yorkshire Police.
Scope and local implications
Prosecutors told the court that although Swaddle was 17 at the time many of the offences occurred, his activity reached a substantial number of young people across borders. The scale of the offending has prompted the NCA to warn about the way closed online communities can operate under the surface of mainstream apps.
For families and organisations working with young people in Leeds, the case underlines persistent risks posed by private messaging services and the speed with which exploitative content can be shared. Police and national agencies continue to advise parents and carers to remain vigilant about children’s online friendships and to report concerns promptly.
Sentencing remarks and the terms of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order mean Swaddle will face long‑term restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending and protecting potential victims. He is also legally obliged to register as a sex offender.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Offender | Justin Swaddle |
| Age | 20 |
| Location | Meanwood, Leeds |
| Sentence | 2 years imprisonment |
| Orders | 10‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order; must sign register |
| Victims | 117 worldwide (8 from UK); aged 13–17 |
The case joins a string of prosecutions nationally that have highlighted how offenders use anonymity and private channels to target children. Law enforcement agencies maintain that close co‑operation between local police forces and national bodies such as the NCA is vital to dismantle these networks and to bring perpetrators to justice.
Anyone with information about online exploitation or concerns about a child’s safety is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police or the NCA through the channels published on their websites. Support services are also available to victims and families affected by sexual abuse and exploitation.
