UK man who posed as a girl to extort teens online gets 20 years in prison

Corrigan and Kierans speaking to the media outside Belfast Crown Court after McCartney was jailed for a minimum of 20 years after admitting 185 charges involving 70 children, on Oct 25, 2024. — PA via AP

Alexander McCartney pleaded guilty to 185 charges of child sexual abuse crimes and blackmail. He had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge in March.

“This was one of the most depraved, distressing and prolific cases of child sexual abuse that we have ever seen in the public prosecution service,” Catherine Kierans, acting head of the Serious Crime Unit of the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, said during a news conference Friday.