Sussex man blackmailed girls as young as 12 online to become 'sex slaves'

Jordan Croft forced victims aged between 12 and 22 to send photos and videos of themselves performing sexual and degrading acts on themselves and other children.

Croft, from West Sussex, was linked to 20 profiles across four messaging platforms, on which he would intimidate victims to verbally confirm they were entering into his “contract of sexual slavery”.

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The National Crime Agency (NCA) found he had been in contact with more than 5,000 people on one platform alone.

He would also punish the victims if they didn’t meet his demands by threatening to expose them to their family and social media followers.

He initially pretended to be a teenage boy in order to befriend his victims, but once content they were going to follow his rules, he revealed his true age and admitted to being a “catfish”.

Croft saved and labelled the images and videos his victims sent with a list of their social media followers, as well as their names and ages.

Jordan Croft, from West Sussex

Numerous police forces had filed reports of online abuse connected to Croft.

Once they identified him as the paedophile behind multiple usernames, police arrested him in September 2019, seizing two mobile phones and a USB stick.

Martin Ludlow, senior investigating officer at the National Crime Agency, said: “Jordan Croft is a prolific offender who has caused heart-breaking suffering to many victims and their families.

“The sexual depravity he consistently displayed during this abuse of both young female children and adults is horrific. 

“Like many offenders, Croft thrived on the power he was able to exert over the victims. He sought the feeling of control and obtained it by deceit and abuse.

“He showed no compassion for the victims, pushing them to breaking point and issuing threats, even when they begged him to stop.

“I commend these young women who have shown such bravery in speaking out against him.”

He was charged with multiple counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, blackmail, making unwarranted demands for (indecent images of children) IIOC, intentionally causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, and making over 900 IIOC in categories A-C.

He pleaded guilty to all 65 counts on Tuesday, August 9, at Lewes Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on November 10.

Heather Wilkinson. of the CPS said, said Croft admitted to sexually abusing 26 people and actively sought victims as young as 12 to sexually abuse.

“Although he attempted to hide his activity through private networks, evidence uncovered against him included age filters he set on a phone app and the controlling rules he shared.

“This guilty plea means the victims of his abuse will now not be forced to re-live their trauma through a trial.”