A man who engaged in a disturbing pattern of manipulation, coercion, and blackmail, targeting multiple children and a young woman across the UK, received a substantial prison sentence exceeding five years on Friday. The case highlights the alarming rise of online predators and the need for greater vigilance among parents regarding their children's online interactions.

Max Hollingsbee, aged 21, was sentenced to a total of 62 months in custody, with the stipulation that he would serve half of this time behind bars and the remaining half under supervised licence conditions. Judge Donna McColgan KC, presiding over the case at Craigavon Crown Court in County Armagh, emphasized the severity of Hollingsbee's offenses, declaring that he would be required to register as a sex offender for life and adhere to a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

As Judge McColgan delivered her hour-long sentencing remarks, Hollingsbee stood in the dock wearing a red t-shirt, showing little emotion as law enforcement officers handcuffed him and led him away. The judge's decision was underscored by the gravitas of Hollingsbee's actions, which were deemed particularly aggravated due to the number of victims, the duration of his offenses, and his continued criminal behavior even after being arrested and placed on police bail. She described his modus operandi as creating a “domino” effect, where he utilized one victim’s details to find and exploit others.

Hollingsbee, who resides at Orient Circle in Lurgan, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to a series of offenses involving a total of 14 identified victims between the dates of June 10, 2021, and April 7, 2023. His charges included a staggering 18 counts of possessing indecent images of children across categories A, B, and C, four counts of inciting children aged 13 to 16 to engage in sexual activities, four charges related to unauthorized access to computers, as well as single counts of blackmail, sexual communication with minors, and inciting a child to distribute inappropriate images.

Detective Inspector Chris Fleming from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Public Protection Branch expressed relief at the sentencing, stating that the PSNI views Hollingsbee as a dangerous child predator who profited financially from his heinous actions and inflicted deep psychological trauma on his victims. He stated, “We have worked long hours, alongside the Public Prosecution Service, on this case to bring him to justice today and are still working behind the scenes to identify more of his victims.”

Fleming also stressed the importance of raising awareness among parents about the evolving nature of child exploitation in the digital age, stating, “People have an image of a paedophile in their minds, a ‘creepy’ old man hanging around play parks. The digital world has warped this, and parents need to be aware that perpetrators are getting younger and more tech-savvy. Not everyone your child speaks to online is who they say they are, and they may have a sinister intent.”

In concluding his statement, Fleming noted the long-lasting harm inflicted upon an estimated nine victims and their families, thanking those who bravely came forward to assist in the investigation. He expressed gratitude that Hollingsbee’s depraved offenses were brought to light and taken seriously by the criminal justice system. “We are working harder than ever to protect children who are being exploited in any way for the sexual gain of adults. If you are downloading, viewing, making, possessing or distributing indecent images of children, we will unveil you, pinpoint your location, and put you in prison where you belong,” he concluded.