Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
A Hackney man, Barthimaus Ehiemere, 25, has been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of a wide-ranging campaign of online grooming and sexual abuse targeting seven boys aged between 12 and 16.
Ehiemere, who police described as “one of the most prolific and depraved s+xual predators in recent years,” was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court for 47 offences, including seven counts of r+pe, committed between 2019 and 2023.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Ehiemere used social media platforms such as Snapchat and the now-discontinued Spotafriend app to groom victims with gifts, money, and compliments. He collected explicit images from the boys, exploited them to target more children, and even sold the materials to other offenders. Investigators recovered over 1,600 indecent images from his devices.
Prosecutors said he had a “deep-seated and commercial interest” in abusing teenage boys, while one victim recounted still suffering nightmares and only later realising “it wasn’t my fault.”
Detective Chief Inspector Kirk Doyle commended the victims for their bravery and warned that more abused children may yet be identified. He said: “Ehiemere’s actions caused deep and lasting harm… Thanks to the bravery of these young people, he can no longer hurt others.”
The court also heard that Ehiemere was previously convicted in 2021 for distributing child abuse material but had received a suspended sentence. Further investigations in 2024 linked him to new victims, including a 12-year-old boy he r+ped, leading to the expanded charges.
Judge Timothy Greene described him as “a serious danger to young boys” before ordering that he be placed on the s+x offender register for life.
The case has reignited public concern over the dangers posed by online predators and the urgent need for tighter digital safety measures to protect children from exploitation.
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