A Belfast man who posed as a modelling agent, persuaded young females to pose for him then threatened to post the sexually explicit images online has been jailed for two years.
Matthew McMahon was handed a five-year sentence which was divided between two years custody and three years on licence.
As she jailed the 31-year old, Judge Donna McColgan KC said he had "played the system" and spoke of the profound impact his offending has had on his "young and vulnerable" victims.
McMahon, from Osbourne Court, pleaded guilty to 23 offences which include intimidation, harassment and multiple offences involving indecent images and videos of children.
Belfast Crown Court heard that a 12-year old girl was among the victims.
McMahon did not show his face, told the girl his webcam wasn’t working then set her a series of sexually-charged challenges which he covertly recorded. McMahon then threatened to post the video online if she didn’t do even more explicit things on camera.
In May 2014, a 19-year old woman contacted police to say naked images of her had been posted online without her consent.
McMahon also targeted a 17-year old via social media, who had signed up to various online modelling agencies.
His home was searched by the PSNI on August 5 2015. A laptop, computer, hard drive and iPhone were seized and when the items were examined, videos of his victims were discovered along with 312 indecent images and videos of children.
McMahon was interviewed by police in January and November 2017 and denied all the charges against him.
When officers asked him about the videos and images found in his devices, he said other people had access to them.
Judge McColgan noted that these denials were maintained until earlier this year.
She revealed a trial listed to start in March 2020 was effected by the pandemic but said a further delay regarding a second trial occurred due to a defence application.
The case was listed for trial again in June 2023 - and at this point McMahon pleaded guilty to the litany of charges.
Defence barrister Mark Barlow said his client “now recognises the seriousness of what he did all those years ago” and that his behavour was “unacceptable”.
Judge McColgan said she had read a statement made in October 2023 by one of McMahon’s victims who spoke of her shame and embarrassment and the impact McMahon’s offending has had on her mental health.
She branded McMahon’s criminality as “a nasty, planned and prolonged set of offences in which there was real harm willingly and knowingly caused to these victims over a lengthy period of time”.
As she sentenced McMahon, Judge McColgan told him the offences involving the 12-year old were “particularly abhorrent.”