A convicted child sex abuser from Swindon has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to 67 new offences. Trevor Fernandes, 41, was already serving a 14-year sentence following his 2022 conviction for grooming and blackmailing a US girl online.
Fernandes was first arrested in December 2020 after a courageous 13-year-old victim in Garland, Texas, came forward. She revealed that Fernandes forced her to send explicit images and blackmailed her into filming the sexual abuse of another child. Using threats to expose her to family and friends, Fernandes coerced her into further abuse.
Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) raided Fernandes’s home in Wiltshire, seizing encrypted devices containing evidence. Multiple online accounts under usernames such as ‘cuteandstrict’ and ‘TcTrevor’ demonstrated his extensive predatory behaviour.
Following his initial conviction, detectives uncovered more victims both in the UK and overseas. By September 2025, Fernandes faced 67 additional charges including blackmail, coercion, making and distributing indecent images, and causing children to watch sexual acts.
Fernandes pleaded guilty in November 2025 and was sentenced to life imprisonment today, with a minimum term of 13 years and eight months. Swindon Crown Court’s HHJ Taylor KC described the offences as “some of the worst of this type” and commended the “highly vulnerable” young victims.
Danielle Pownall, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, said: “Fernandes is a prolific and dangerous child sex offender who used threats and blackmail to coerce horrendous acts.” She praised the bravery of the Texas girl for coming forward, noting that without her courage, Fernandes could still be abusing children.
Jeanette Smith, CPS specialist prosecutor, added: “Fernandes exploited girls aged 1 to 16 across England, America, Canada, Ireland and Norway via social media. This international crackdown ensures he faces full justice and helps protect other young girls now and in the future.”
Authorities have vowed to continue pursuing predators and safeguarding vulnerable children worldwide.
Originally published by UKNIP.
