Twisted tale of child sexual abuse, ‘sextortion’ from Bengaluru: Teen trapped online
Bengaluru parent says teen son tricked into sending nude photos of him, parents to extortionist on Facebook
Theja Ram
Like most teenagers, 13-year-old Sandeep* from Bengaluru’s Herohalli, would spend hours on Facebook every day.
But this browsing, according to an FIR filed with the Cyber Crime of CID in Bengaluru, lead to a twisted tale of child sexual exploitation and ‘sextortion’ in the city.
In June 2016, Sandeep became friends with a person named Tejal Patel. Sandeep and Tejal Patel talked every day for months.
Towards the end of April, Tejal Patel began sending pornographic images of a certain girl to Sandeep. It is unclear whether Tejal Patel is a man or woman and from where the account was being operated. He had also received Sandeep’s nude photographs a few months into the chatting.
According to an investigating officer with the Cyber Crime Police, sometime in May, Tejal Patel stopped sending the pornographic images, which Sandeep was hooked to by then.
“Sandeep kept asking Tejal Patel for more pictures. This was when the first demand came. Tejal Patel refused to send them any more pictures unless he procured pictures of Sandeep’s parents having sexual intercourse. The boy, who did not realise what this might entail, procured the photos and sent it to Tejal Patel,” a Bengaluru Cyber Crime officer told TNM.
Thus, began the saga of child pornography and sextortion, if one goes by the FIR lodged with the Cyber Crime police.
Soon after Sandeep sent Tejal Patel the pictures of his parents, the miscreant demanded that Sandeep pay up Rs 1 crore ($160,000 USD) or face the unbearable humiliation of his parents’ and his explicit photos appearing on all social media platforms.
It was after this incident that Sandeep realised that he was being played by Tejal. Panicked and scared of the turn of events, Sandeep told his parents the series of events which had occurred since he became friends with the stranger on Facebook.
The boy’s parents immediately approached the Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police and an FIR was registered against Tejal Patel under section 67(B) of the Information Technology Act 2000 (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit act), sections 14 (punishment for using child for pornographic purposes) and 15 (punishment for storage of pornographic material involving child) of the POCSO Act, and sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), 384 (punishment for extortion) and 385 (putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) of the Indian Penal Code.
Child pornography production
It is not just sexual grooming or sexual abuse that predators on the internet indulge in, child pornography production too is a facet of Internet-related sex crimes. The National Juvenile Online Victimization (NJOV) Survey by University of New Hampshire in 2005 found that one in five online child molesters took sexually suggestive or explicit photographs of victims or convinced victims to take such photographs of themselves or friends.
Another study found that 4% of youth Internet users were asked to take sexual pictures of themselves and send them to online solicitors.
Sextortion
The Bengaluru case may also be a case of sextortion. Sextortion is a method employed by predators on the internet where the victim is coerced to pay money or explicit pictures and videos will be published.
Thorn, an organization that fights child sexual exploitation with tech says ‘Sextortion’ is an emerging type of crime. It says, “Sextortion is a wide-ranging problem and not isolated to one website or app. Perpetrators used many forms of technology to reach victims and 45% of victims reported contact with perpetrators on more than one platform.”
*Name changed.
Anthony Foster: campaigner for child
sexual abuse victims dies
Tributes paid to justice advocate whose two daughters were abused by a priest in the 1980s and 90s
Anthony Foster, shown with pictures of his daughters Emma and Katie, both abuse victims, in March 2016 after a meeting with Cardinal George Pell in Rome. Photograph: Riccardo De Luca/AP
Australian Associated Press
The chair of Australia’s child sex abuse royal commission has said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of tireless victims advocate Anthony Foster.
Foster, who became a relentless advocate after his daughters were raped by a priest, was reported to have died on Friday evening from a major stroke.
Foster and his wife, Chrissie, shared their torment to the media and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Justice Peter McClellan extended his condolences to the Foster family and praised their dedication to achieving justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.
“They attended hundreds of days of public hearings and participated in many of our policy roundtables,” McClellan said.
“With a dignity and grace, Anthony and Chrissie generously supported countless survivors and their families whilst also managing their own grief.
“Commissioners and staff at the royal commission are deeply shocked and saddened by this news.”
Foster’s daughters, Emma and Katie, suffered sexual abuse at the hands of pedophile priest Kevin O’Donnell at their Melbourne school between 1988 and 1993.
Emma took an overdose of her medication and died in 2008, while Katie was hit by a car and is now brain damaged and in a wheelchair.
Tributes poured in for Foster on Saturday, with many describing the father as a voice for survivors who struggled to discuss their personal experiences.
“Anthony was the person that stood up and he spoke in quiet but powerful words, and in many ways you know, he roared like a lion on this issue,” friend Paul Kennedy said.
Bless your soul, Anthony, for giving silent children a voice.
Kennedy co-authored a book, Hell on the Way to Heaven, with Foster in 2010.
“It is just so sad for everyone that Anthony Foster has died,” he said.
Fellow victims’ advocate Manny Waks said he was devastated to hear of the death of his friend and colleague.
“Anthony, together with his dear wife Chrissie, has been one of my inspirations,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Despite all they endured, they maintained determination and dignity in their ongoing campaign for justice and reform within the Catholic Church – for them and for others.”
Waks voiced his anger with the Catholic church for the “ongoing pain and suffering they caused the Fosters”.
“At the very least they should belatedly publicly acknowledge the incredible work by such an amazing family,” he said.
“They should belatedly publicly apologise to Anthony and Chrissie Foster.
“Many of us are mourning with you. We will continue to support you in whatever way we can.”
Boys' Brigade leader jailed for seven years for
child sex abuse
By Neil_Shaw, Stuart Abel
A Devon Boys' Brigade leader who sexually abused children in his care has been jailed for seven years.
David Wall, 53, indecently assaulted three boys he was in charge of in the Christian youth organisation and went on to abuse a fourth boy. The married father of two carried out his sick crimes over two decades before his victims worked up the courage to come forward.
Wall, who assaulted boys in tents and in his home during informal sleepovers, was known by members of his unit as "Wandering Hands" Wall. But boys were too afraid to complain until the first one contacted police until 2007.
Jailing him for seven years, Judge Paul Darlow said: "This was a gross abuse of your position in a Christian caring organisation, the purpose of which was to promote moral values."
He said his abuse had a "marked" impact on his victim. He was finally brought to justice about two decades after the last offence, following a second trial. A jury in a previous trial last October could not agree verdicts in a hearing involving three of the complainants.
The officer in the case said outside court that she was "thrilled" with the sentence. DC Sarah Ronayne was praised for her three-year investigation.
Wall, now living in Ringwood in Hampshire, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault against four boys. The jury, after more than ten hours of deliberations, could not agree on a verdict on a sixth count involving a fifth complainant.
Judge Darlow discharged the jury from reaching a verdict in relation to that single count. He entered a not guilty verdict. Ali Rafati, for Wall, said he continued to deny all of the offences and had stayed out of trouble since at least 2000.
He added: "There are things in those victim impact statements that may not be attributed on balance to David Wall." Mr Rafati said Wall has worked hard to run a charity for years in Hampshire, called Acts 4 Sharing, to help other people.
Wall showed little reaction as the unanimous guilty verdicts were read, shaking his head silently.
One victim told the court in an emotional statement that he was driven to try and take his own life when he was 23, about a decade after he was indecently touched during a sleepover in a tent.
The man added: "I have suffered 18 years of pure hell and almost taken my own life because of his actions. I was an innocent child who was turned into a self-loathing paranoid mess.
"Since this incident I feel that my innocence was lost".
The man, who was never in the Boys' Brigade, was about 13 at the time of the abuse. He added: "I do have a small ounce of pity for him. He must be a very sick man. He must not have contact with children ever again."
He said that he had battled with drugs, drink and depression because of the abuse at the hands of the married church-goer and father-of-two. The man added that he had a "number of emotional breakdowns". He said that he hoped the conviction would "bring closure".
All the victims said that they had trouble dealing with everyday situations and coping with relationships. One said he could not cope being in the company of men, which had blighted his chosen career.
He said in a statement: "I keep my head down, I work in a dead-end job and at the end of the week I just take my pay."
The man has seen a psychiatrist and had anger management. He added: "I cannot stand being touched by a man in any way, anywhere."
Officer in the case DC Sarah Ronayne had to rely on the memories of complainants and other boys to trace their former colleagues. Two of the five complainants happened to be living abroad – one on the other side of the world.
One was never a member of the Christian organisation and came forward independently after watching footballers complaining of abuse they had suffered as children. Wall stood trial in October last year but escaped justice when the jury could not agree on their verdicts.
One victim came forward after seeing footballer Andy Woodward complain of abuse as a child on television
The first complainant came forward in 2007 and Wall denied the allegation in an interview which lasted two and a half hours. But police decided to take no further action and the file was not passed over to the Crown Prosecution Service. The exact reason for that decision had not been revealed.
The second victim to contact police in 2014 spoke out after being trained about child protection as part of his job. Police launched Operation Sandor in August of that year.
Wall said he was arrested at his church on his 25th wedding anniversary.
"I am thrilled with the outcome. Wall is a risk to young children. The sentence is fitting of the crime."
Trial judge Paul Darlow praised the investigation, which was almost entirely the work of DC Ronayne.
Reporting by plymouthherald
Devon, UK
Hearing proves West Yorkshire Police constable failed to treat child sex abuse survivor properly
The nine-day hearing into the 2011 case concluded on Thursday
A West Yorkshire Police officer has received a written warning after a hearing found failings in the treatment of a child sex abuse survivor.
A nine-day misconduct hearing directed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that officers failed to engage with the survivor and their family properly.
Dr Derrick Campbell (Photo: Birmingham Post and Mail)
The detective constable was found to have failed to progress serious allegations and didn’t seek proper guidance, as well as making “inappropriate comments” to the survivor.
The hearing related to a case that was investigated in 2011.
An inspector and a sergeant were also found to have failed in supervising the DC and did not provide enough resources.
Police said that between them they had “failed to treat the survivor and their family appropriately.”
However, the panel found that misconduct was not proven against the inspector or the sergeant, and the two did not receive warnings.
IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “I would like to express my sympathies for the survivor and their family for what is a very sad and disturbing case. I sincerely hope that West Yorkshire Police has truly learned lessons from this and will put measures in place to make sure these mistakes are not repeated in the future.”
Two officers, who were found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct, could not be subject to misconduct proceedings, as they had retired before the conclusion of the IPCC investigation. A further two officers were subject to management action as a result of their roles in the police investigation.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said that the force takes allegations of abuse extremely seriously and are actively campaigning to raise awareness of the issue.
The spokesperson said: “Since this time our approach to child sexual exploitation has significantly changed – it is a top priority for West Yorkshire Police. We have built strong partnerships and developed better working practices to ensure victims are properly supported and crimes thoroughly investigated to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
“The signs of child sexual exploitation are now identified and acted on at an early stage, and measures are put in place to protect victims and potential victims of this abhorrent crime.
“This improved understanding has also led to a number of cases across West Yorkshire, where perpetrators have been given lengthy jail sentences for sexual offences, some committed decades ago.”
A 2016 HMIC assessment into WYP’s safeguarding of young people was rated as “good” and recognised the force’s change in response to allegations of abuse.
The worst sexual abuse scandal in British soccer history is up to 560 victims
The allegations are focused on 252 suspects.
Andy Woodward talks to HBO’s David Scott. (Screengrab via HBO)
One of the worst child sexual abuse scandals in sports history just keeps growing in scope.
Last month, the National Police Chiefs’ Council in England released the latest numbers in an ongoing investigation into a child sex abuse scandal in British soccer. As of that report, 560 alleged victims had come forward with allegation against 252 suspects.
So far, 311 football clubs from all ranks, amateur through premier, have been impacted by the investigation.
This week on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, former Chelsea soccer player Gary Johnson talked to journalist David Scott about the abuse he suffered.
Johnson was scouted for Chelsea’s elite youth program when he was only 13 years old by Eddie Heath. One day, after Johnson had a bad day at school, Heath invited Johnson back to his house. Once there, Heath put on a porn movie.
“The next thing I know my trousers and underwear are around my ankles and he started sexually abusing me,” Johnson said.
Johnson kept the abuse a secret for over 40 years, but decided to come forward after seeing another former soccer pro, Andy Woodward, talk with the BBC about the sexual abuse he experienced as a child at the Crewe Alexandra football club.
“Why would I want to tell anyone? I don’t want to have that stigma of going to a game and people laughing at me,” Johnson said, explaining why he was silent for all of those years.
Woodward’s BBC interview triggered floods of other victims to come forward, and caused the Football Association to launch an independent inquiry into sex abuse in British soccer between 1972–2005.
While the FA has promised reforms, many are skeptical. One anonymous former football executive whom Scott interviewed said he reported allegations of abuse to the FA back in 2001, and received a letter back saying: “The Football Association has investigated the issues and is satisfied there is no case to answer.”
A few years later, the FA abruptly terminated a study on child protections citing budget cuts.
But it’s a promising sign that the FA has launched such an intensive independent investigation —even though not everyone is cooperating with it. Earlier this month, Daniel Taylor of the Guardian reported that eight professional football clubs contacted by investigators have failed to respond to the inquiry.
The FA is considering imposing sanctions if the clubs continue to refuse to cooperate.
“The fact that clubs continue to ignore the FA inquiry and fail to cooperate is deeply concerning,” Dino Nocivelli, a lawyer who is representing a number of the former footballers, told Taylor. “It clearly shows their disregard for survivors of childhood sexual abuse within football and serious questions have to be asked as to the reasons why these clubs have decided not to engage.”
Now, the survivors who have come forward are hoping to get more support from the soccer community at large, and to create ways for victims to get the help they need. Last fall, Woodward and two other victims, Steve Walters and Chris Unsworth, founded an organisation called the Offside Trust to do just that.
However, the organization has seen some turmoil — Woodward is no longer a member of the board of directors and the split was reportedly not amicable — and the men have been frustrated by the lack of support from today’s soccer stars.
“Initially we just presumed we would get the support of every single player and every single club within the country, even global,” Walters told the Guardian in February. “That would be the right thing to do for the sake of humanity. I can understand if they are not sure what the Offside Trust is all about — what its aims and objectives are — so might have been tentative. But we still need more modern-day footballers to support us because there are about 10 to 15 and that’s it. It does disappoint you a little bit.”
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