Teenager sexually exploited up to 85 school boys into sending him naked videos and images

William Powner, of Fitzwalter Road in Woolston set up fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat – pretending to be teenage girl.

He made contact with his victims via direct messages on the apps before turning the conversation sexual with flattering comments to lure the boys in.

Powner, who was diagnosed with autism shortly before the sentencing, appeared at Chester Crown Court this week but was not sent to jail.

Families of the victims’ along with one young victim were present at the sentencing.

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Simon Parry, prosecuting, said: “This case involves one of the most serious incidents of online child sexual exploitation by a suspect who has systematically targeted children causing them to engage in sexual activity via multiple social media platforms.

"This sexual exploitation has been screen-recorded by the suspect. The victims have been threatened to further engage in sexual acts in order to prevent the footage being publicly distributed and in one case the recorded footage was publicly shown on Instagram."

In total, Powner, 18, sexually exploited almost 85 children around the world, victimising nine children in Warrington.

More than 300 indecent images of children were found on his laptop and other electronic equipment when seized by police.

Under the female name Charlie Smith on Facebook, meme_queen1965284 on Instagram and Charlie Clarkson on Snapchat, the court was told how Powner targeted male children between 11 and 16.

PICTURED: Chester Crown Court

Parry said: “With promises to reciprocate revealing photos of himself, when a young person refused his requests the defendant would become insistent that images were sent to him. Once those images were received the defendant then turned to threatening and intimidation. He would threaten that the images would be shared online or with the victims’ friends.

"On occasions those threats forced victims into sending even more sexual images to the defendant. In one case the defendant actually carried out his threat and posted an image on Instagram."

Reading out the charges on each victim, Parry described how Powner first contacted a 14-year-old boy on Instagram.

He said he would make the victim’s life ‘hell’ if he did not send more photos.

The court was told how the victim collapsed on the floor with the stress after telling his mum he was being forced to do things by a girl he did not know.

Powner next preyed on an 11-year-old boy, he sent the boy images of his first victim and threatened to share a made up story with the boy's friends and family if he did not also send a video to Powner.

After demanding more images from a third victim, Powner, under the female profile Charlie Clarkson, told a boy to go to Woolston Park to perform indecent acts on William Powner and give him £50 in order to assure that the images and videos would not be publicly shared.

PICTURED: William Powner

Victim impact statements were read out in court in which several parents stated that their sons' childhoods had been taken away.

One mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons said: "I thought I had failed as a mum as I had failed to protect him.

"That night when I discovered what had happened, my world fell apart. I felt powerless and it absolutely broke my heart."

The boys say they live in constant fear that the images and videos will resurface and ruin their lives.

Ben Knight, defending, told the court that recent medical assessments revealed Powner is on the autistic spectrum.

His obsessional and compulsive traits along with an inability to empathise paralleled the behaviour towards his victims.

Knight said: "He has been failed by his GP and school for not spotting these traits earlier.

"He was subject to bullying in school and was also sexually humiliated in year eight while in the changing room.

"Powner sees his future obliterated and his career aspirations are null, he knows this will impact on his future for the rest of his life."

Judge Roger Dutton, said: "Over a pretty lengthy period you used social media in the worst possible way.

"Through your computer you terrorised and exploited these young boys who were in fear of what might happen."

Since Powner was 17 when he was arrested and pleaded guilty, he was tried as a minor.

He was given a youth rehabilitation order and a 12-month curfew. He was also handed a 10-year sexual harm and prevention order.

Cheshire Police says the case against Powner should serve as a warning to all parents about the dangers of social media.

Chief inspector Sarah Pengelly said: “This case highlights the fact that people you communicate with on social media and chat websites may not be who they claim to be and that you should never send indecent photographs or videos of yourself to others.

“It also highlights the need for parents and guardians to warn their children of the dangers of communicating with people online and via social media, to check that they are using those things safely and to keep an eye out for any warning signs of sexual exploitation.”

PC Becky Millyard added: “The teenager tricked, manipulated and blackmailed boys aged nine to 17 in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“His actions have had a profound impact on his victims and will affect them for the rest of their lives.

“I would like to praise the brave victims and their families who came forward to police and gave evidence.

“While the case is concluded victims will continue to receive the support they need to move forward from what Powner subjected them to.”

PICTURED: Powner, 18

FAMILIES of the victims of William Powner expressed their anger at the sentence.

One mum told the Warrington Guardian: "I just have no faith in the justice system, other people will see that they can get away with it. He just gets to carry on with his life and I think he would have carried on what he was doing if he hadn't been caught."

A mum and dad from Orford, said: "I think he may have got an easier time in prison but now he's being watched.

"My son is the same age as Powner now and I just can't envisage the reasons behind it, my son has his own issues - he has struggled in school but he didn't do anything like that.

"It seems a bit convenient that he has just been diagnosed with autism now.

"The last 18-months have been awful."

One victim, who was present in court, said: "He was in my year at school, it is frustrating that he has had these tests all of a sudden.

"I've had no counselling, I feel like I've had no support. But PC Becky Millyard has been fantastic, she was the driving force behind the team.

"It plays on my mind daily and sometimes I'll take out my frustration on everyone - it does get to me still."

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “This is an extremely disturbing case of predatory sexual abuse where the perpetrator was himself a child.

“The scale of Powner’s offending is astounding and shows how easily paedophiles can target vulnerable children online.

“That’s why the NSPCC’s Wild West Web campaign is calling for robust legislation that requires social media giants to keep young people safe on their sites.”

In its response to the Internet Safety Strategy, the Government will publish a White Paper with proposals for which measures should be built into legislation. The NSPCC will be working to ensure the legislation is thorough and meaningful. 

CHARGES IN FULL >

Powner pleaded guilty to the following charges

• Seven counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 to 17
• One count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged under 13
• Three counts of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence
• Three counts of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child
• Three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child
• Two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch a sexual act
• Two counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child
• One count of blackmail
• One count of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress
• One count of possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child
• One count of possession of a prohibited image of a child