A man who exploited and blackmailed numerous victims by posing as a teenage girl on social media has been sentenced to 21 years in prison. The successful prosecution is attributed to the tireless efforts of the Essex Police’s specialist child exploitation proactive investigation team.
Jay Lang, 24, carried out his sinister activities between April 2018 and November 2021. During this period, he adopted the persona of a 16-year-old girl named Chloe on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. Under this guise, he made contact with boys of similar ages, some as young as 11.
During these interactions, Lang engaged in sexually explicit conversations and coerced the boys into sharing compromising images and videos. After obtaining these images, he revealed his true identity as a man and proceeded to blackmail the victims, demanding more images or money. In two instances, Lang arranged to meet the victims in person, where he committed contact offences.
The investigation team, comprised of dedicated officers and staff, was able to identify and secure charges against Lang related to 26 victims he targeted. Consequently, he was compelled to admit to 46 charges, including various counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing or inciting child sexual exploitation, arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography, and blackmail.
In a landmark ruling, Jay Lang was sentenced to 21 years in prison, with an additional six-year extended license period. He must serve a minimum of 14 years before becoming eligible for release. Furthermore, Lang’s name will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, and he will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, severely restricting his contact with children, whether online or in person.
The sentencing hearing took place at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, September 22. Judge Samantha Cohen presided over the case and praised the investigative team for their remarkable work, hailing it as the most extensive child exploitation investigation ever undertaken by Essex Police.
Judge Cohen commended the victims’ bravery and highlighted the profound impact of Lang’s actions, causing significant anxiety, distress, and disruptions to their education. She particularly acknowledged Detective Sergeant Ben Rushmere, Detective Constable Hayley Langmead, and Detective Constable Steven Tilley for their exceptional dedication to the case.
The scale of Lang’s crimes came to light after an initial report in November 2021, leading to his arrest at his residence in Thorney Bay Road, Canvey. Subsequent examination of his electronic devices revealed the extent of his offences.
The investigation involved painstakingly sifting through hundreds of gigabits of phone data to identify social media accounts Lang had interacted with. Each potential victim was approached with sensitivity and safeguarded, thanks to the collaboration with partner organisations such as the Social Care, Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service SERICC, the Educational Safeguarding Board, and the Children’s Society. These efforts, along with the support of victims and their families, allowed Essex Police to build a compelling case against Jay Lang.
Detective Sergeant Ben Rushmere, who leads the child sexual exploitation proactive investigation team, expressed gratitude to the victims and their families for their cooperation, emphasising that their openness was crucial in building a robust case against Lang.
Chief Inspector Paul Hogben, district commander for Rochford and Castle Point, emphasised that the investigation’s results have significantly enhanced the safety of the community.
Jeanette Smith, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), commended the victims for their courage and underscored the CPS’s commitment to pursuing justice for those who sexually abuse and exploit children.
