BELFAST - A man from Northern Ireland on Oct 25 was given a life sentence for 185 charges of online child sexual abuse and blackmail related to so-called catfishing attacks, one of which led to the suicide of a 12-year-old American girl.

       The court heard that computer science student Alexander McCartney, 26, groomed victims around the world on messaging sites, including Snapchat and Instagram, by making them believe they were talking to a teenage girl of similar age online.

       He would then encourage them to send indecent images or engage in sexual activity via a webcam or mobile phone, which he would then share online with others and use to threaten the children. He sometimes forced his victims to involve siblings as young as three in the abuse.

       One of his victims, 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas from West Virginia, took her own life in 2018 with her father’s gun during online contact with McCartney, the court heard. She was found by her nine-year-old sister.

       Under the life sentence, McCartney will be eligible for consideration of release in 2039, Justice John O’Hara told Belfast Crown Court.

       McCartney, who had pleaded guilty to all charges, sat with his head down as the judge described his crimes and stood up with his eyes closed when the sentence was announced. He was led away in handcuffs. REUTERS