AN “EVIL PREDATOR” posed as a teenage girl to pray on boys for indecent images.

James Utting would ask the teenage boys to share naked images of themselves with him.

The sick pervert had thousands of images from as many as 401 boys across the country including in Sussex.

Some of the youngest were just eight years old, a court heard.

The 36-year-old blackmailed the boys to keep sending indecent images of themselves, and threatened to share the pictures he had with family members. After blackmailing them, some of his victims could be seen crying and begging him to stop.

At Winchester Crown Court he was jailed for ten years after admitting 43 offences of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

He also admitted 11 counts of engaging children in sexual activity.

Judge Jane Miller QC ruled that Utting, of St Michael’s Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, posed a danger to children and sentenced him to ten years in custody with an extended licence period of five years.

She said “It was both devastating and highly distressing for the boys, it will affect all of their lives.

“I hope they will be able to pick themselves up after your sentence and move forward, I hope they understand it wasn’t their fault.”

Matthew Lawson, prosecuting, told the court that Utting had created false social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat using the image of a 15-year-old girl.

Utting wanted to entice them to commit sex acts on themselves, and then carried out his blackmail threat on 19 of his victims by sending the images to family members and friends.

One victim, aged 14, said in a victim impact statement that “paranoia was everywhere” after the images were shared with other pupils at his school.

Mr Lawson said that Utting told police that he had become “addicted” and “lost control of himself” as well as describing his actions as “cruel”.

Richard Martin, defending, said that Utting had a “troubled life” and had been diagnosed as autistic.

Detective Constable Wendy Harrison, of Hampshire Police, said outside court: “Utting’s offences were so prolific and caused so much trauma and distress to so many young people right across the country.

“He targeted and exploited young and vulnerable boys by hiding his true identity behind a fake and digital persona.

“I just hope this sentence can now allow those young people and their families to move ahead with their lives.”