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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Matthew Falder posed as female artist for online sex attacks | Matthew Falder posed as female artist for online sex attacks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man said to be among the UK's most prolific paedophiles blackmailed people online into carrying out "degrading" sexual acts, a court heard. | A man said to be among the UK's most prolific paedophiles blackmailed people online into carrying out "degrading" sexual acts, a court heard. |
| Cambridge graduate Matthew Falder, 28, admitted more than 100 offences, including encouraging a teenager to rape a four-year-old boy. | Cambridge graduate Matthew Falder, 28, admitted more than 100 offences, including encouraging a teenager to rape a four-year-old boy. |
| Falder contacted 50 victims online over seven years, posing as a female artist, and sharing images on the dark web. | Falder contacted 50 victims online over seven years, posing as a female artist, and sharing images on the dark web. |
| It took about 30 minutes to list the offences at Birmingham Crown Court. | It took about 30 minutes to list the offences at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| 'Hurtcore' charges | 'Hurtcore' charges |
| Falder, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, a former geophysicist researcher at Birmingham University, admitted 137 charges, and denied another 50 which will remain on file after his guilty pleas were accepted by the prosecution. | |
| The number of offences makes him one of the country's most prolific paedophiles, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said. | The number of offences makes him one of the country's most prolific paedophiles, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said. |
| Falder's case is said to be the National Crime Agency's first successful so-called "hurtcore" prosecution. Hurtcore relates to hidden forums on the dark web dedicated to sharing images and videos of rape, murder, sadism, torture, paedophilia, blackmail, humiliation and degradation. | Falder's case is said to be the National Crime Agency's first successful so-called "hurtcore" prosecution. Hurtcore relates to hidden forums on the dark web dedicated to sharing images and videos of rape, murder, sadism, torture, paedophilia, blackmail, humiliation and degradation. |
| Midlands Live: Cyclist killed in bus crash; boxing brawl stab victim named | Midlands Live: Cyclist killed in bus crash; boxing brawl stab victim named |
| His victims were offered money in return for sending him naked photos, the court heard. | His victims were offered money in return for sending him naked photos, the court heard. |
| Falder used the online names "666devil" and "evilmind" on websites such as Gumtree. He then blackmailed his victims into sending increasingly obscene images. | Falder used the online names "666devil" and "evilmind" on websites such as Gumtree. He then blackmailed his victims into sending increasingly obscene images. |
| He also admitted charges of causing the sexual exploitation of a child, encouraging the rape of a four-year-old, making and distributing indecent images of children and voyeurism. | He also admitted charges of causing the sexual exploitation of a child, encouraging the rape of a four-year-old, making and distributing indecent images of children and voyeurism. |
| Images that Falder shared included photographs showing children and babies being tortured, the court was told. | Images that Falder shared included photographs showing children and babies being tortured, the court was told. |
| Ruona Iguyovwe, of the Crown Prosecution Service described Falder as "highly manipulative". | Ruona Iguyovwe, of the Crown Prosecution Service described Falder as "highly manipulative". |
| "He clearly enjoyed humiliating his victims and the impact of his offending, which carried on over several years, has been significant," he said. | "He clearly enjoyed humiliating his victims and the impact of his offending, which carried on over several years, has been significant," he said. |
| 'Deeply shocked' | |
| Matthew Long, head of operations at the NCA, thanked the victims for their bravery in coming forward. | |
| Falder is expected to be sentenced on 7 and 8 December. | |
| A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said: "The university is shocked to hear of the abhorrent crimes committed by a former post-doctoral researcher. | A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said: "The university is shocked to hear of the abhorrent crimes committed by a former post-doctoral researcher. |
| "We have no reason to believe that the offences are in any way connected with the university." | "We have no reason to believe that the offences are in any way connected with the university." |
| A University of Cambridge spokesperson said Falder was a student there between 2007 and 2016. | |
| "We continue to offer support to anyone who has concerns about the case," they added. | |
| "The university is deeply shocked and saddened by this case." |