A social media influencer who sexually abused two teen boys has lost a battle at the Court of Appeal to keep his identity secret. However, the convicted sex offender has indicated an intention to elevate the appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal made a 20-page decision that interim name suppression would remain in place until that process was completed.
The defendant was found guilty in June 2022 of five counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection after two victims said he preyed on them while they were unconscious or asleep.
He was sentenced three months later to nine years’ imprisonment. The man’s first accuser told police and later jurors that he first met the defendant in 2015 when he was 16 and trying to make headway in the same industry as the defendant.
They became close friends, and social media messages showed they were sometimes flirtatious. The defendant described the now-adult witness as a liar and a “tease” who was using him to get ahead.
He denied having spiked the teen’s drinks on two occasions and blackmailing the teen by threatening to destroy his reputation or release nude photos if the teen didn’t relent to sexual acts.
The second accuser said he was 18 years old when he twice woke up in the defendant’s bed after nights of heavy drinking to find the defendant performing a sex act on him.
The defense lawyer, Nick Chisnall KC, also appealed the conviction, arguing that High Court Justice Rebecca Edwards had improperly instructed the jury.
