When Immy, a teenager from Northern Ireland, realized she was being catfished by someone she believed was a friend, her world turned upside down. The perpetrator, Max Hollingsbee, used a false identity to befriend her online, then escalated to threats and blackmail, coercing her into sending explicit images. Immy, whose real name is not being disclosed for her protection, was only 15 when the abuse began. Now 18, she’s speaking out, urging other young victims not to feel "embarrassed" and to tell someone they trust about any abuse they experience.
Immy’s decision to confide in her mother proved pivotal. "In the moment you’re so stressed. So my immediate thought was leg it to my mum’s room. I just shoved the phone straight into my mum’s hands and I went: 'Help. What do I do?' And she then phoned the police," she recalled in an interview with BBC News NI. Her bravery in coming forward led to a police investigation that uncovered 13 other girls and young women targeted by Hollingsbee, who was 17 when he started his campaign of abuse.
Hollingsbee, now 21 and from Lurgan, County Armagh, was sentenced to five years in prison for a litany of offences, including causing children under 16 to engage in sexual activity. His method was alarmingly familiar: he pretended to be a younger boy or girl, created fake profiles, and used them to gain the trust of his victims before blackmailing them for explicit content. The case highlights the broader phenomenon of online catfishing, where perpetrators use deceptive identities to exploit vulnerable individuals.
Immy’s experience is far from unique. According to figures obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information request, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) made 478 arrests for sexual communication with a child between 2019 and 2024. In the same period, 175 people were convicted for such offences. The scale of the problem is further underscored by the 799 offences recorded in 2024 alone relating to the taking, possessing, sharing, or publishing of indecent images of children.
Hollingsbee’s case is not isolated. Another young man from County Tyrone is currently awaiting sentencing for similar crimes. And in October 2024, Alexander McCartney was jailed for at least 20 years in what was described as the UK’s largest catfishing case. McCartney’s crimes were staggering in their reach and severity—he abused thousands of children around the world, and his extreme demands led to the death of a young girl in the United States. The McCartney case prompted the PSNI to launch the Trust Trap campaign, using footage from a BBC documentary to raise awareness among young people and their families.
PSNI Detective Superintendent Jordan Piper explained the tactics used by offenders like Hollingsbee and McCartney: "Groomers like McCartney and Hollingsbee operate in a very similar way, concealing their identity online and pretending to be the same age as a child. They use fake profile pictures, pretending to have similar interests to gain the trust of the child before steering the conversation to a sexual nature."
The stereotypical image of a child sex offender is changing, prosecutors warn. Catherine Kierans, acting director of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), told BBC News NI, "People have this image of paedophiles being creepy older men, but we are seeing younger and younger male offenders, perhaps because they have computer skills to follow through with their impulses." She noted that recent cases—including those of Hollingsbee, McCartney, and the unnamed County Tyrone offender—share common themes: all started offending as teenagers, many targeted children abroad, and all used popular social media platforms like Snapchat and Wizz to find and abuse victims.
The psychological toll on victims can be profound. Marcella Leonard, an expert in the assessment and treatment of sexual trauma, emphasized that while the "recording of harm" is not new, the "diversity, breadth and capability of that technology, and how that has changed the type of harm" is. One of the "biggest lessons from McCartney" was the impact on children "being made to do things, to harm themselves, by being blackmailed," she said. The knowledge that images have been taken and could be circulating online adds another layer of distress for victims: "They think about: 'Where is that photograph, who has got that, how many copies have been made?'"
For Immy, the consequences were immediate and severe. She was diagnosed with anxiety following her ordeal and missed out on school during her crucial GCSE year. Yet, she considers herself fortunate to have had a supportive parent who acted quickly. "Even with the relationship I have with my parents, it’s still a very embarrassing conversation to have to have. If you don’t tell someone who can think rationally in a situation like that, it could have ended very, very differently for me, 100%." Immy’s message to other young people is clear: don’t suffer in silence, and don’t let embarrassment stop you from seeking help.
The nature of online abuse is evolving, and so too must the response from parents, educators, and tech companies. Online safety expert Wayne Denner noted that the problem is no longer confined to teenagers. "I’m in primary schools three or four times a week. Three or four years ago, it would have been mostly secondary schools," he said. Denner warned that abusers use online games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, as well as messaging apps, to reach ever-younger children. He advised families to avoid letting children use technology alone behind closed doors and urged grandparents, as well as parents, to educate themselves about online risks.
On July 25, 2025, the Online Safety Act came into force across the UK, marking a significant step in the fight against online child abuse. The law requires internet companies to adopt stricter age verification measures and to appoint individuals within their organizations who are accountable for children’s safety. Some campaigners argue that even tougher rules are necessary, with calls for social media bans for under-16s gaining traction.
Social media companies have responded to the growing scrutiny. A spokesperson for Wizz told BBC News NI that the company "takes the subject of catfishing very seriously and is fully committed to protecting our users," referring to their online safety engagement policy. Snapchat, meanwhile, stated that the sexual exploitation of any young person is "horrific, illegal, and against its policies."
Catherine Kierans acknowledged the courage it takes for young people like Immy to come forward. "This type of behaviour is very compulsive and these offenders seek bigger and bigger hits. They leave a footprint online that police can follow."
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so do the threats facing young people online. The stories of Immy and the other victims serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance, education, and open communication. For those affected, the message is simple: seek help, trust someone, and know that you are not alone.
