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‘My daughter thought she was talking to a boy online and sent nude pic

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Warning: This article addresses child sexual abuse that readers may find distressing

Marie and Dan say their daughter’s childhood stopped when she was just 12 years old.

“Her innocence was taken away,” Dan says.

Their child believed she was talking online to a 14-year-old boy from London. In fact, she was being preyed on by a predator who she sent nude photographs of herself.

A tearful Marie is haunted by the impact on her daughter.

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Marie speaks to Sky News about her daughter’s ordeal

Sky's Adele Robinson speaks to the parents of a girl who was groomed online
Image:
Sky’s Adele Robinson speaks to the parents of a girl who was groomed online

“You go through all those questions thinking, ‘I should have done more because I’m her mum, and I’m supposed to protect her’,” she says.

The couple describe how the offender told their daughter he knew where she lived, and threatened to harm her and her family if she failed to do as he asked.

“She was really fearful we were going to be hurt,” Marie says.

Dan adds: “Then, once that threat abated slightly, it was then, ‘well, I’m going to commit suicide if you don’t keep providing me with images’.”

Dan says his daughter's 'innocence was taken away'
Image:
Dan says his daughter’s ‘innocence was taken away’

Marie and Dan say their daughter's childhood stopped when she was just 12 years old
Image:
Marie and Dan say their daughter’s childhood stopped when she was just 12 years old

Experts say there is a “notable gap” in what we know about how offenders are using online platforms to exploit children – and they want to address it.

Sky News has been given exclusive access to a world-first report surveying online perpetrators globally.

Researchers carried out an anonymous survey among perpetrators who have used known keyword terms to search for child sexual abuse material on the dark web.

More than 20,000 responses were received, with participants taking part…

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