A 22-year-old man from Bristol has been jailed for five years after using the popular video game Fortnite to groom children and possess and distribute indecent images of minors. Kieran Francis, residing on Fishponds Road, targeted vulnerable children online, befriending them through the game before inciting them to engage in sexual activities and share explicit material.
Francis was initially arrested in April 2025 by Avon and Somerset Police, who discovered over 1,000 indecent images of children on his devices. Released on bail with strict conditions prohibiting contact with children, further investigations revealed his involvement in grooming activities across multiple police jurisdictions. On 9 August 2025, he was rearrested following disclosures from three other police forces about his predatory behaviour using Fortnite, a game that has been immensely popular among children since its 2017 release.
At Bristol Crown Court on 16 October 2025, Francis pleaded guilty to serious charges including two counts of causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempting to meet a child following grooming, three counts of possessing indecent images, and one count of distributing indecent images of children. The court heard devastating victim impact statements from affected families. One mother described how her son's 'childhood has been stolen, his trust shattered, and his safety ripped away,' emphasising that the grooming was 'calculated' and 'cruel,' leaving deep, lifelong wounds.
Another victim's mother spoke of the lasting shadow cast over her children's lives, stating, 'Monsters don't hide in the shadows at night, but I was wrong in saying they didn't exist. They are, and he's before us now.' She added that while the trauma would not define her children, Francis had 'darkened their lives' without right.
Detective Constable Natalie Norman of Avon and Somerset Police condemned Francis's 'repulsive crimes,' noting how he exploited children simply wanting to enjoy video games. 'Francis befriended his victims, requested images and videos from them for his own sexual gratification. He then went as far as to distribute these images to other individuals seeking the same disgusting and heinous gratification,' she said. DC Norman praised the victims' bravery, crediting their cooperation for the conviction and potential safeguarding of other children. All victims and families received support from their respective police forces.
The case underscores the dangers of online grooming through gaming platforms, with Fortnite's widespread appeal among young users making it a tool for predators like Francis. Avon and Somerset Police led the investigation, collaborating with other forces to bring him to justice.