Online predator whose ‘catfish’ abuse drove American father and daughter to take their own lives jailed
An online predator who led an American girl and her father to take their own lives has been jailed for at least 20 years after the UK’s largest “catfishing” case.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide and child sex abuse which readers may find distressing.
Alexander McCartney, 26, previously admitted 185 charges, including the manslaughter of a girl who took her own life.
Police called him a “dangerous, relentless, cruel paedophile” who “may as well have pulled the trigger himself” – and said there were about 3,500 victims.
Devices seized from his bedroom contained hundreds of thousands of indecent photographs and videos of underage girls.
Belfast Crown Court heard they were aged between 10 and 16 and based in the UK, USA, continental Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
McCartney, from south Armagh in Northern Ireland, used Snapchat and other sites to pose as someone else online (known as catfishing).
He pretended to be a young girl to persuade his victims to send him images. He then blackmailed them into sending more explicit material.
Alexander McCartney. Pic: PSNI
Cimarron Thomas, 12, from West Virginia, shot herself with her father’s gun, instead of complying with his demands after he gave her an online countdown. But there were more tragic repercussions.
Unable to live with the loss, her father Ben Thomas, a former US Army veteran, died by suicide 18 months later.
Former computer science student McCartney pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter, 59 of blackmail, and 70 of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
At his sentencing, the judge said his offending began at age 14.
‘Utterly remorseless’
McCartney admitted dozens of charges related to making and distribution of indecent images of children and appeared “utterly remorseless”, said barrister David McDowell KC.
The prosecution said he deliberately targeted victims who were either gay or exploring their sexuality and “degraded and humiliated them”.
The judge called the details “excruciating” and much of what he did is too graphic and disturbing to detail.
McCartney told one girl he would send people to rape her if she didn’t comply. In some instances, he demanded his victims involve younger siblings.
Girl shot herself after McCartney countdown
In May 2018 and posing as ‘Sarah’, he messaged Cimarron Thomas at her family’s farmhouse in the tiny US village of Bruceton and persuaded her to send a topless photograph.
When McCartney revealed he wasn’t Sarah, he demanded more explicit pictures and threatened to send them to her father.
When she pleaded for him to stop, he told her to “dry her eyes” and involve her nine-year-old sister in the sexually explicit material via webcam.
Belfast Crown Court heard a police officer who reviewed the material said Cimarron was “utterly distraught and sobbing”.
The court heard McCartney “counted down” online from 20 to zero – insisting on more pictures.
Cimarron refused and shot herself.
McCartney’s cynical last message read: “Goodbye and good luck.”
Cimarron Thomas. Pic: PSNI
Father couldn’t forgive himself
Cimarron’s younger sister heard what she thought was a balloon popping but found her lying on her parents’ bedroom floor. She died in hospital later that night.
Her father Ben couldn’t forgive himself for leaving his handgun within reach and took his own life 18 months later.
A statement read in court from his wife, Stephanie, said he felt guilty about his daughter’s death and “lost interest in life”.
Cimarron Thomas and her father Ben
Cimarron’s family couldn’t understand why she killed herself until three years later when police found the online chat on McCartney’s computer.
In a statement, Cimarron’s grandparents said: “We all have been devastated by our granddaughter’s passing.
“We know that nothing that we do or say will bring her back. But if we can help another family to not have to go through what we did, something good could come out of her death.
“Parents, please keep the doors of communication open concerning the evil of some people online.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
UK
Philip Young appears in Swindon court charged with 56 sexual offences against ex-wife – as five others also charged
A man has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period.
Philip Young, 49, formerly of Swindon, has been charged with 56 offences, including multiple counts of rape, against Joanne Young.
He is also charged with administering a substance to allow sexual activity, as well as voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.
Young appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his name and address.
He declined to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until the next hearing at Swindon Crown Court on 23 January.
The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023.
Philip Young was remanded in custody
The 49-year-old was taken to court in Swindon on Tuesday morning
Five other men have also been charged with sexual offences against Ms Young. The 48-year-old has waived her legal right to anonymity.
The full list of charges against Philip Young are:
- 11 counts of rape
- seven counts of sexual assault by penetration
- four counts of sexual touching
- 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity
- 13 counts of voyeurism specific to videos
- Voyeurism on at least 200 other occasions
- Possession of Indecent Images of Children:
Category A – 139
Category B – 68
Category C – 23
Prohibited – 3
Extreme – 82 (with one count each for four types: rape, animals, death, gore)
Breaching S1 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 on at least 500 occasions
The other men appeared at the same court later on and were released on conditional bail.
They are: Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. He is a black British national and has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images.
Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.
Court artist sketch of Philip Young (right) appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court. Pic: Elizabeth Cook/PA
Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching
Richard Wilkins, 61, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching
Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon. He is a British Asian and has been charged with sexual touching.
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