He was a normal teenage gamer – then 'manosphere' turned him into a sex predator
He was a normal teenage gamer – then 'manosphere' turned him into a sex predator
A new law finally snapped shut on an online abuser.
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Paul Jeeves 15:22, Thu, Jun 18, 2026 Updated: 15:26, Thu, Jun 18, 2026 
A teenage boy who encouraged a young victim to self-harm and produce sexually-explicit images of herself as part of a sustained campaign of online abuse fuelled by his links to a ultra-extreme ‘Manosphere’ group, has been jailed for almost five years. Elijah Palmer, now 18, pleaded guilty to several counts of making and possessing indecent images, as well as perverting the course of justice, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and encouraging serious self-harm.
Palmer was linked to the ‘764’ group – an ultra-violent sextortion and sadomasochistic online network whose members deliberately target vulnerable children to extort them for ‘content’ to share with other members of the network. He targeted his victim on the online gaming platform Discord – subjecting her to an escalating campaign of intimidation, exploitation and coercion.
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The group is linked with extreme neo-Nazi ideologies, and operates on the fringes of the so-called Manosphere and other toxic spaces that exploit male-to-male dynamics and promote misogyny.
Prosecutors were able to charge Palmer for the harm caused under new provisions of the Online Safety Act which criminalise those who encourage others to self-harm online.
Appearing for sentence at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday the teen was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody with another four years to be served on extended license.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Harrison said: "Technology can be an extremely useful tool, but unfortunately we know that a small number of people look to abuse online platforms.
"The Introduction of the Online Safety Act in 2023 is allowing us to investigate and prosecute those who choose to cause harm using these online platforms.
"Offenders may think they can hide behind usernames on these online platforms, but this is far from the truth, we will find them."
Palmer first contacted his victim through the online gaming platform Roblox before moving their chat to Discord. Beginning with seemingly minor requests, he became increasingly demanding over time – eventually requesting that she send him nude images as well as evidence of her self-harming and carrying out various acts of degradation.
Palmer used various methods of blackmail to control his victim. He made threats to her and her family, and even began manufacturing a fake bomb threat which he claimed he would send to a local school from an email address in her name if she did not do as he asked.
When the victim reported Palmer to South Yorkshire Police, its investigation uncovered his links with the ‘764’ group. Members of the group – predominantly teenage boys and young men - seek out vulnerable victims in online spaces where children are discussing issues such as depression, eating disorders or self-harm.
Their modus operandi is to initially approach victims as a friend, building trust in order to exploit and control them. Members manipulate victims into sharing explicit ‘content’ – including of self-harm or sexual acts - which they share amongst the group to gain notoriety.
Members often use several aliases and accounts to hide their illicit activity. In this case, Elijah Palmer operated under various aliases and held numerous social media accounts across different platforms in an attempt to conceal his identity. He would also tell his victim that he was sharing the content he exploited from her with other members of the 764 group, to further manipulate and intimidate her.
Palmer was first arrested by South Yorkshire Police on 30 June 2025. He was bailed on the condition he not contact the victim, whilst police conducted enquiries on his devices. Palmer was later charged with perverting the course of justice after he breached his bail conditions to contact the victim in an attempt to get her to retract her statement to police.
In police interview, Palmer initially denied all knowledge of the offending. He claimed he had previously joined the 764 network ‘because of the thrill’, but had since the left the group. Police and prosecutors worked closely to build a body of evidence, resulting in Palmer subsequently pleading guilty to his crimes.
"Victims of these crimes are never to blame, and I want to reassurance anyone who may think they have been a victim that you will be listened to and supported."
Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside Caroline Deacon said: “This was a deeply disturbing case involving the calculated and deliberate targeting of a vulnerable young victim. Palmer blackmailed and threatened his victim, demanding increasingly degrading acts to serve himself and build his reputation amongst other members of the 764 group.
"The Online Safety Act introduced new offences which allow us to prosecute those who encourage others to self-harm online.
“This case demonstrates exactly why that legislation was necessary, and that the CPS will not hesitate to use these powers where the evidence supports it.
"Working closely with South Yorkshire Police, we built a compelling case based on the victim's account and digital evidence recovered from Palmer's devices, resulting in him subsequently pleading guilty. We also applied for bad character evidence of a similar pattern of offending against another victim in the United States to demonstrate a similar pattern of offending to the court.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
