A man who blackmailed women by threatening to publish indecent images of a child has been jailed.

In 2018 and 2020, George Austin-Bohan, 28, demanded money from the two women online, threatening to publish indecent images of a child on Instagram.

He had obtained the images without the victim's knowledge.

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The matter was reported to the National Crime Agency who referred it to the Metropolitan Police.

Austin-Bohan was arrested on May 14, 2020 by officers from the Met's Central East Command Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Unit.

His electronic devices were seized and upon forensic examination were found to contain digital evidence of the offences.

As part of the investigation, evidence came to light that Austin-Bohan had also contacted another woman.

He had informed her that her private sexual images had been posted online and then directed her to the Reddit website.

Austin-Bohan pressurised the victim to send him further private sexual images in exchange for removing them.

He was again arrested on November 25, 2020.

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On September 8, 2022 a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant was executed at a residential address in Tower Hamlets.

Drugs with an estimated street value of between £10,000 and £15,000 were seized along with over £7,000 in cash.

Austin-Bohan was present with another male, Mustafa Karakaya, and both were arrested at the scene.

Austin-Bohan's offences include three counts of blackmail, malicious communications, distribution of indecent images of children in categories B and C, possession of Class A drugs and possession of Class B drugs, both with intent to supply.

Austin-Bohan pleaded guilty to the offences and was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on November 10, 2022.

He appeared at the same court on Friday, February 24 and was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment.

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PC Lindsey England, from the Met’s Central East Command, said: "The offences committed in this case are vile and have been truly distressing for the victims.

"Austin-Bohan used multiple social media accounts in an attempt to conceal his identity and continued to deny his involvement throughout the investigation.

"There has been a considerable amount of investigative effort including vast digital forensic work involved in this case but without the victims’ bravery in coming forward Austin-Bohan could not have been brought to justice.

"I hope that the sentence handed down provides them with a sense of justice and I hope they can put these incidents behind them.

"Online sexual offences, both against children and adults are damaging in the extreme and I would urge people to report such crimes to police so that they can be investigated.

"Victims will be listened to and should know that there are many avenues of support available."