Five Lancashire men admit hacking 3,700 social media accounts to steal intimate images

A group of men hacked into thousands of social media accounts to steal private and intimate images of their victims.

A Lancashire Police investigation launched after several women came forward uncovered the hacking and sharing of images on a huge scale with almost 3,700 victims across 12 countries, including more than 900 in Blackpool alone.

Many of the images were of children.

The offenders found a way to hack into social media accounts, mainly Snapchat, and steal content including personal information and images which they then widely shared via a file sharing site.

And while the crime was committed online the impact in the real world was devastating. Police have said the victims were left feeling violated.

Some escribed feelings of fear, shock, panic, and anxiety saying they will never truly feel safe again as they can never know for sure when the images might resurface and who might have seen them. Some resorted to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Others said they were left feeling that their whole world had fallen apart. Several described paranoia and struggles trusting others, police revealed.

Five men have pleaded guilty to their involvement and will be sentenced in April next year.

Jack Lomax, 33, of Chester Avenue, Poulton Le Fylde admitted Conspiracy to secure unauthorised access to computer material and Conspiracy to transfer criminal property

Sean Robinson, 38, of Armistead Court, Fleetwood admitted Conspiracy to obtain articles intending to use them to commit or assist in commission of offences; Conspiracy to secure unauthorised access to computer material; Conspiracy to transfer criminal property; Possession of extreme pornographic images and Possession of Indecent images of children with a view to distribute

Jamie McGunnagle, 36, of Dinmore Place, Blackpool admitted Conspiracy to secure unauthorised access to computer material; Conspiracy to transfer criminal property and Possession of Indecent images of children with a view to distribute

Christopher Simpkin, 39, of Olton Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands admitted Conspiracy to obtain articles intending to use them to commit or assist in commission of offences; Conspiracy to secure unauthorised access to computer material; Conspiracy to transfer criminal property; Possession of indecent images of children and Distributing Indecent Images of Children.

David Woof, now known as David Miller, 35, of Avondale Road, Fleet, Hampshire admitted Conspiracy to obtain articles intending to use them to commit or assist in commission of offences; Conspiracy to secure unauthorised access to computer material; Conspiracy to transfer criminal property; Possession of indecent images of children and Possession of Indecent images of children with a view to distribute.

Det Supt Rach Higson, who led the team who uncovered the conspiracy, said: “These offenders have caused very real and irrevocable damage to many thousands of women.

“The online conversations and continued sharing of content are particularly concerning, suggesting an apparent absence of remorse, empathy, or meaningful recognition of the severity of the harm inflicted upon the victims.

“Their only focus was fulfilling their own gratification with no regard for others.

“The continued circulation and discussion of material perpetuates the harm, prolongs victims' distress and reinforces the sense that their dignity, privacy and well-being have been disregarded. These women will carry this abuse for the rest of their lives.

“I commend the bravery of the women that have taken steps to combat this abhorrent behaviour.

“They have led the way, lifting the lid on this form of abuse which is occurring nationally, facilitated by individuals like the five convicted in this case.

“Their actions have directly contributed to a more focused approach in how police investigate such crimes, improving capabilities and ensuring that the victims are heard and taken seriously.

“Online harm may originate in a digital environment, but its consequences are experienced by real people, in their real lives, having very real impact. We will continue to investigate and prosecute online offending in order to better protect women and girls.”

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire added: “Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority in Lancashire.

“The offenders in this case have violated the privacy of innocent people for their own selfish needs, and this is a damning example of how misogyny and abuse targeting women is just as prevalent in our digital world as in the rest of our lives.

"I'd like to commend the dedicated, thorough police work that we have seen throughout this investigation. It is testament to the values of policing in Lancashire to protect vulnerable people and take offenders out of our communities and put them behind bars.

"The strength of the victims is inspirational, and I hope these convictions will help as they move forward. My Office is in the process of designing bespoke victim support for those affected by non-consensual intimate image abuse, to help process the trauma and fear that it can cause.

"What is clear is that there is much more to do to put an end to this type of offending online, and Lancashire Constabulary and I have jointly lobbied Government on the need for stronger legislation that makes it easier to ensure the punishment fits the crime. I will continue to back the Chief Constable with the resources needed to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms, and deliver the proactive, efficient policing service the public rightly expect.”

Protect your online security

Criminals take advantage of weak security to easily take control of accounts but there are a few simple steps which will help keep you in control of your important accounts and personal data.

- Password Hygiene – Use strong, separate passwords for your important online accounts especially your email as this is the gateway to all your accounts.

- Take time to set up 2-step verification on your important accounts. This means that you set up a ‘second step’ that only you can access which prevents unrecognised devices accessing your account without your authorisation.

- Check that you have the latest updates on all your devices and applications. Don’t ignore notifications that updates are required as these patches give the latest security and protection from viruses and malware which could compromise your account. It is advised to turn on ‘automatic updates’ if available.

Support and advice is available through Revenge Porn Helpline, Victim Support Lancashire and Birchall Trust for those affected by these crimes.