A married father from Merseyside has made grim legal history as the first person jailed in the UK under the new Online Safety Act for encouraging a child to self-harm. Karl Davies crafted six fake online identities to groom and abuse a 13-year-old schoolgirl, leading to a 20-year prison sentence handed down at Manchester Crown Court.
Elaborate Catfish Web Tricks Police
Davies began targeting the young victim in October 2023, initially posing as a teenage boy named “Ben” on Discord and Snapchat. He would later introduce five more fake accounts, playing different characters to confuse and control her. Detectives at first believed six different men were involved, but all the personas were revealed to be Davies himself.
- Some fake “men” threatened the girl, while others “warned” her against the threats — creating a twisted circle of manipulation.
- They coerced her into sending sexual photos and videos, then pressured her to self-harm and document it.
“He was putting her in a position where she was scared,” said Detective Sergeant Rob Griffiths, who led the investigation. “Ultimately it was all Karl Davies, and this was just a sophisticated way of controlling a young girl.”
‘Saviour’ Persona Deepens Control, Abuse Goes Offline
One persona, “Mark,” acted as a supposed ‘saviour’, offering to protect her from the other fake characters and reinforcing Davies’s grip. This classic grooming tactic made the girl feel trapped and dependent.
The abuse escalated into physical meetings last summer, with Davies picking the girl up from school. On one occasion, he brought a razor blade and told her to self-harm, which was shocking evidence of his control beyond the screen. Police found the blade and her scrunchie in his room after arresting him.
Double Life Exposed by Wife’s Suspicion
Davies hid his sick double life from his wife and children, pretending to travel for work while secretly meeting the victim. His wife grew suspicious and called a phone number she found amongst his belongings. A child answered, unraveling Davies’s horrific secret and prompting his arrest.
“It’s extremely concerning that Karl by all accounts is a family man,” DS Griffiths told Sky News. “He holds down a full-time job. And then on the other side of it, online he is a completely different person.”
Landmark Online Safety Act Conviction
This case marked the first under the 2023 Online Safety Act involving encouraging a child to self-harm—a newly created crime. Prosecutors warn such abuse, especially online grooming, is on the rise, often involving stacks of distressing material.
“We see a lot of cases where the victim is as young as this,” said Crown Prosecution Service’s Zoe Becker. “This type of abuse can take a massive toll on everyone involved.”
Warning for Parents and Kids
The chilling case highlights the evolving menace of online predators who create complex fake personas to trap vulnerable youngsters. Social media and chat apps grant them access far out of parents’ sight, making vigilance more critical than ever.
Experts urge open parent-child conversations about online contacts and warn that even “safe” platforms can hide dangers.
Support and Helplines
- Samaritans (UK): 116 123 or [email protected]
- US Help Line: 1 (800) 273-TALK
