Online sex offender described as "every parent's worst nightmare" avoids jail

A "predatory" man from Yorkshire who targeted more than 80 teenage girls across the world online has escaped a custodial sentence.

Josh Boynton-Eckles preyed upon girls through online apps, sending naked photographs of himself and and asking for them in return.

The 24-year-old from Hull contacted his victims in 2016, engaging them in sexual conversations despite knowing their ages.

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A judge described him as "every parent's worst nightmare", while the detective leading the investigation revealed the amount of inappropriate images of girls he had amassed was "exhaustive".

Josh Boynton-Eckles, 24, sentenced at Hull Crown Court for inciting sexual activity with girls aged between 13 and 15Josh Boynton-Eckles, 24, sentenced at Hull Crown Court for inciting sexual activity with girls aged between 13 and 15
Josh Boynton-Eckles, 24, sentenced at Hull Crown Court for inciting sexual activity with girls aged between 13 and 15

Boynton-Eckles was given a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Hull Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday), after pleading guilty to five counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with three girls aged between 13 and 15, making indecent images of a child, distributing indecent images of a child and fraud by false representation.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

His Honour Judge Tremberg said Boynton-Eckles had "carried out an indiscriminate and predatory course of conduct by his actions in targeting young girls online".

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The judge added that the defendant was “every parent’s worst nightmare” when referring to his behaviour online.

Boynton-Eckles targeted his victims through online appsBoynton-Eckles targeted his victims through online apps
Boynton-Eckles targeted his victims through online apps

Detective Constable James Salamon, of Humberside Police, said following the sentencing that Boynton-Eckles posed "a real threat" to young teenage girls.

He said: “The examination of his mobile phone and apps was incredibly exhaustive with 1000’s of images discovered and if printed, more than 15,000 pages of data examined in order to identify as many victims as possible.

“Over 80 teenage girls from all over the world were identified as being in contact with him and 85 indecent images of young teenage girls from the UK, Germany, USA and Canada, were found on his mobile phone.

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“Extensive enquiries resulted in a number of the girls being identified, with any under the age of 18 where it was possible, spoken to by officers with safeguarding put in place and support and care also made available for them. The information was also shared with various law enforcement organisations in other countries.”

Hull Crown CourtHull Crown Court
Hull Crown Court

DC Salamon added: “I want to thank everyone who spoke to us as part of the investigation, and to those who provided evidence in this case I want to praise them for their courage in coming forward and helping with the investigation and the prosecution process.

“The Sexual Harm Prevention Order will provide a means for us to monitor Boynton- Eckles and his actions, and should there be any evidence of offending in the next two-years, he could potentially be sent to prison to serve the 20-month sentence.

“We would always encourage anyone who has been a victim of similar activity or behaviour, whether in person or online, to please come forward and report what has happened to them, as we will always take reports of this nature seriously and do all we can to bring offenders before the courts."