Teen boy charged with sextortion after allegedly blackmailing girl

The 17-year-old was charged with attempting to gather sex abuse material and police allege the boy was talking to at least five further victims "in an attempt to sextort them".

The Wollongong boy was initially arrested on October 19 and charged with blackmailing a 16-year-old girl as well as threatening to record or distribute intimate images and sending child abuse material.

He was again arrested on November 22 and police charged the boy with offences including soliciting child abuse material and demanding with menace with the intention to gain.

Detective superintendent Matthew Craft said sextortion involved offenders requesting sexual images via the internet and using them to profit financially or through coercive sexual favours.

Sextortion attempts were increasing in Australia as part of a global trend, he said.

"While it's a scary and sometimes embarrassing predicament to find yourself in; we want victims to know there are options available to them and police have powers to take action against alleged offenders," he said.

The 17-year-old faces court on November 28, 2023 and January 24, 2024.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

Support is available for those who may be distressed: