Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson, aged 24, and his associate Prince Singh targeted vulnerable teenage girls, coercing them into acts of serious self-harm and engaging in physical abuse, as heard at Woolwich Crown Court. The offences, which occurred throughout 2024 into January 2025, involved two girls aged 16 and 17 at the time. Johnson and Singh encouraged the victims to carve names into their skin, with the intent of leaving them scarred for life, and subsequently mocked them in online chat forums.

This case represented a landmark conviction under the Online Safety Act of 2023, marking the first time defendants were found guilty by a jury of assisting or encouraging serious self-harm. Evidence recovered from devices seized from the defendants' bedrooms included indecent images of children and references to other girls not central to the trial. Johnson was convicted on two counts of encouraging self-harm, two counts of distributing indecent images of a child, and three counts of assault by beating. He also admitted to two counts of making an indecent image.

During the sentencing hearing on 10 December 2025, Judge Ruth Downing highlighted the men's unhealthy interest in encouraging young women to self-harm, describing their actions as deliberate and planned, treated like a game. One victim recounted how Johnson, in his 20s at the time they met, 'weaponised' her youth, leaving her with nightmares of the abuse and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. She stated, 'I was made to feel like everything was my fault, even when he hurt me,' and added, 'Emotionally, I felt worthless for a long time, I felt disposable and I even felt guilty that he was facing consequences.'

The court proceedings were reported by the BBC, drawing on details from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and court testimonies. Both defendants were charged in April with multiple offences related to the exploitation of the victims.