Conor Brady

Conor Brady, a 32-year-old man from Long Riding in Basildon, Essex, conducted a prolonged campaign of online sexual abuse against more than 100 teenage boys aged 13 to 17. Operating under fake identities on social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, Brady pretended to be a teenage girl to gain the trust of his victims and manipulate them into performing sexual acts. He employed screen recording software to covertly capture videos and images of the abuse, which he then stored, distributed, and even purchased additional child sexual abuse material online.

The investigation into Brady's activities was initiated by the Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) after receiving intelligence about an online account linked to him uploading indecent videos of children to the internet. This led to his arrest in November 2022 at his home in Basildon, where officers seized multiple digital devices. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered the extensive scope of his offences, spanning several years.

Following a complex three-year investigation that involved identifying and supporting numerous victims, Brady was charged with 47 offences. These included causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, making and distributing indecent photographs of children, and sexual exploitation. On Friday, October 24, he pleaded guilty to all charges at Basildon Crown Court.

During the sentencing hearing, HHJ Samantha Cohen described Brady's actions as 'carefully planned' and noted that he used 'tried and tested methods to cause young boys to act in a way they would not have considered if they had known they were talking to a man in his 20s rather than a teenage girl'. She emphasised that 'the harm you have caused your victims is incalculable'. Brady was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with an additional six years on extended licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and issued with a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Sergeant Nicola Hadfield, who led the investigation for Essex Police, described the case as 'one of the most horrific and far-reaching cases I have worked on'. She highlighted how Brady 'tricked and manipulated his victims and then stored the videos and images he had captured', adding that it was right he was now serving a substantial prison term. The investigation underscored the resilience of the victims, whose cooperation was pivotal in bringing Brady to justice.