A teenage boy, who police say was talking to multiple victims online, has been charged with a slew of alleged sextortion and blackmail offences. The 17-year-old was arrested after officers initially began an investigation into the alleged sextortion and blackmail of a 16-year-old girl. He was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged on October 19 with blackmail and threatening to record and distribute intimate images using a carriage service for child abuse material. He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children's court on January 24. Detectives rearrested the teenager last week, charging him with additional offences including using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material and demand with menace. He was refused bail and appeared before a children's court on November 23, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear on Tuesday. Police will allege in court the boy was talking to at least five further victims in an attempt to sextort them. Commander of State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft said sextortion is on the rise. The crime involves offenders targeting children online and requesting sexual images, before threatening to share them publicly unless the victim pays up. "We want victims to know there are options available to them and police have powers to take action against alleged offenders," Det Supt Craft said. "Anyone can become a target of sextortion, and it is never the victim's fault." Australian Associated Press
