A 43-year-old father of two has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by Manchester Crown Court, becoming the first person in the UK to be jailed for coercing a child to self-harm under the new Online Safety Act. Karl Davies, a quantity surveyor from the Wirral, targeted a girl from Cheshire via Snapchat, pressuring her to harm herself and committing sexual offenses against her. The court heard that Davies, who showed no remorse, engaged in contact sexual activities with a schoolgirl aged between 13 and 14, demonstrating a disturbing sense of entitlement.
The offenses began when Davies contacted the girl on Snapchat in June 2023, manipulating her into sending indecent images and videos over the following year. He used multiple aliases to maintain communication with her, eventually meeting her in person to sexually abuse her in his car on four occasions in the summer of 2024. Judge Hilary Manley described Davies’ actions as depraved and sadistic, imposing an extended sentence to account for the severity of his crimes.
Davies also coerced the victim into self-harming and provided her with razors for that purpose. His conviction marks the first instance of someone being found guilty of encouraging serious self-harm to a child under Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023. Judge Manley condemned Davies’ behavior as abhorrent, emphasizing the psychological harm inflicted on the vulnerable girl for his own gratification.
The abuse came to light when the victim disclosed the incidents to her stepmother, leading to Davies’ arrest. Evidence of his crimes was found on the victim’s phone, including a video of the sexual abuse. Despite his admissions, Davies denied any sexual interest in children, claiming innocence despite his explicit actions and remarks towards the victim. Huw Edwards, the prosecutor, detailed how Davies used various aliases on social media to manipulate and control the victim, even resorting to threats to ensure compliance.
Davies’ tactics included deceit, manipulation, and blackmail to maintain control over the victim, demonstrating a disturbing level of planning and predatory behavior. Stacey Gosling, senior Crown prosecutor for CPS North West, expressed shock at the sophisticated methods employed by Davies to groom the young girl, highlighting his callous disregard for the lasting impact of his actions. She emphasized the importance of bringing Davies to justice and expressed hope for the victim’s recovery as he begins his prison term.