Man jailed for blackmailing children into sending indecent images

A man who befriended children on social media and persuaded them to send him explicit photos and videos has been sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court.

Cory Jones, 19, made contact with 37 children aged between 10 and 16 years old, sometimes using his own details and sometimes using aliases. He gained their trust before asking them to send explicit photos and videos of themselves.

Jones also sent sexual photos and videos of himself to the children. 

When some of the children refused further requests, he blackmailed them into sending more sexually explicit images saying he would publish the previously sent images on social media. 

Following his arrest, examination of his phone showed that it contained 172 indecent images of children. 

Jones pleaded guilty to 69 offences including blackmail, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and distributing indecent images. 

Lisa McCarthy of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Cory Jones was deceptive and manipulative, coercing children to engage in acts to satisfy his own sexual gratification and blackmailing some by threatening to publish sexually exploitative images on social media when they refused. 

“This was a substantial and complex investigation, with the number of child victims quite shocking.

“This case was brought as a result of significant liaison between the Crown Prosecution Service and South Wales Police. The CPS would like to thank the victims for the courage they have shown in bringing Cory Jones to justice.

“The CPS takes sexual offending against children extremely seriously and will use the full weight of the law to bring those who commit such offences to justice.”

Cory Jones was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on 17 October 2025. A sexual harm prevention order was imposed for life and Jones was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.