A 25-year-old Nigerian man, Bosun Osagie, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison in the United Kingdom for hacking a woman’s social media accounts, using her photographs to create fake profiles and attempting to blackmail her.
According to Merseyside Police, the case was reported in February 2023 after the victim’s Snapchat and X accounts were compromised.
Investigations revealed that the woman’s images were allegedly used to create fake online profiles advertising her as a sex worker. The photographs were also sold online, further violating her privacy and exposing her to potential exploitation.
Osagie, of Hartslock Drive, Bexley, London, was arrested and charged following police investigations. He subsequently pleaded guilty to computer hacking and blackmail.
He was sentenced on Monday, October 12, and also received a 10-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
Detective Sergeant Darren Devonport said Osagie’s actions had caused the woman considerable distress, describing the incident as an invasion of her privacy and an attempt to extort money from her.
The officer commended the victim for reporting the offences and stressed the police force’s commitment to tackling the possession and distribution of indecent images.
The case highlights the potentially devastating consequences of cybercrime, particularly when criminals exploit stolen photographs and compromised social media accounts to harass, intimidate or financially exploit victims.
It also underscores the importance of reporting online abuse and preserving evidence that can assist law enforcement agencies in identifying and prosecuting offenders.
The 27-month prison sentence, alongside the 10-year restraining order, marks the legal consequences Osagie faces for the offences to which he pleaded guilty.
