A GLASTONBURY man has been jailed for 12 years for posing as a teenage girl to manipulate schoolboys into sending him naked photos and videos of them abusing other children.

The National Crime Agency investigated Oliver Derbidge, 25, after the Australian Federal Police shared details of a UK-based online account with links to an Australian offender.

NCA investigators discovered Derbidge had expressed a sexual interest in young boys on child abuse forums.

He was arrested and his electronic devices were found to contain indecent images of multiple teenage boys, as well as records of online conversations in which Derbidge blackmailed a boy into sexually abusing another child.

Derbidge admitted posing as a teenage girl using the alias Emily Beecham to target schoolboys on Snapchat.

He would send them friend requests and ask them to send naked photos of themselves, sometimes sending back naked images of a female he had found online.

In total 23 boys aged 11 to 16 were identified by NCA officers as victims of Derbidge.

Some said Derbidge had threatened to share their naked photos with friends and family if they did not send him additional images or footage of them abusing another child.

Derbidge pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a 15-year-old child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, five counts of causing or inciting a child aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetrative) and three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 12 years at Taunton Crown Court today (Friday, January 14) and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

NCA senior investigating officer Phil Eccles said: “Derbidge went to great lengths to satisfy his sexual attraction to young boys.

“Like many online offenders, he attempted to mask his real identity with a convincing persona to exploit teenagers into sending him sexual content.

“When they did not meet his demands, he even blackmailed some of them into abusing other children.

“His abuse has had a profound impact on these vulnerable young victims who have been extremely brave throughout the course of our investigation."

He added: “We will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure those offenders who think they can hide online are identified and brought to justice.”

If you are concerned about a child, or someone’s behaviour towards a child, report it to police on 101.