A 25-year-old man from Hackney has been jailed for 18 years after being convicted of a string of serious sexual offences against young boys, including rape, grooming through social media apps, and profiting from the distribution of child abuse material.
Barthimaus Ehiemere, of Chart Street in east London, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court where he was sentenced for 47 offences committed against seven identified victims, aged between 12 and 17. The crimes, which spanned from 2019 to 2023, involved the systematic grooming of vulnerable boys via Snapchat and the now-defunct app Spotafriend.
Ehiemere lured his victims by offering cash payments, gifts, and compliments in exchange for explicit images and videos. He frequently posted messages advertising his interest in trading "quality nudes" or displaying stacks of money with captions like "let's be friends" to attract underage users. In several cases, the grooming escalated to in-person meetings where Ehiemere sexually assaulted and raped boys, including filming the attacks in public locations. Prosecutors revealed he described one rape of a 12-year-old as "the best sex ever" in private messages.
Beyond direct abuse, Ehiemere operated a commercial enterprise, selling the child sexual abuse material he obtained to other offenders online. When police seized his devices, they recovered more than 1,600 indecent images of children, along with videos of the rapes.
The case first came to light in July 2020 when authorities received intelligence about Ehiemere distributing illegal images. He was arrested, pleaded guilty to related charges, and received an eight-month suspended sentence in 2021, along with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that restricted his device usage and contact with minors. Despite this, Ehiemere breached the order multiple times by using unregistered phones and continuing his activities.
He was rearrested in October 2024 after further violations were uncovered, leading to the discovery of additional evidence, including the rape footage. Remarkably, none of the known victims came forward voluntarily; all were identified through police analysis of Ehiemere's devices and online accounts. Investigators believe there could be hundreds more victims who interacted with him digitally but have yet to be traced.
Ehiemere entered guilty pleas to 32 charges before trial, including rape of a child under 13 and inciting the production of indecent images. A jury later found him guilty on 15 additional counts.
During sentencing, Judge Timothy Greene described the offences as a "campaign of sexual offending" driven by both gratification and financial gain. "You are a serious danger to young boys," the judge told Ehiemere, noting a complete lack of genuine remorse. While a life sentence was considered, the court opted for 18 years in prison with an additional four years on licence, plus an indefinite SHPO.
Prosecutor James Brown KC highlighted Ehiemere's calculated approach: "He was very much in the business of encouraging young teenage boys to send him images of themselves performing sexual acts, frequently offering money and then selling that material onward."
One victim impact statement read in court spoke of ongoing trauma: "I wake up with nightmares... It took me a long time to realise I was a child and it wasn't my fault."
Detective Chief Inspector Kirk Doyle of the Metropolitan Police praised the thorough investigation and issued a public appeal for potential additional victims. "Ehiemere was a prolific and predatory offender whose actions have caused deep and lasting harm," he said. "If you believe you or someone you know may have been affected, please come forward. You will be listened to, believed, and supported."
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Operation Teigar via 101, Crimestoppers anonymously, or dedicated online reporting channels.
The case underscores the persistent dangers of online grooming on popular social platforms, with child protection advocates calling for stronger safeguards from tech companies to prevent such exploitation.
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