A British man faces spending the remainder of his life behind bars after receiving a 42-year sentence in an American federal prison for child sexual exploitation offences.
Scott West was convicted by an Illinois court on three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
The lengthy sentence follows West’s extradition to the United States after a joint investigation by the US Secret Service and Greater Manchester Police uncovered his involvement in an international scheme targeting young boys.
The 40-year-old from Salford admitted to the charges in January, with US Chief District Judge Sara Darrow presiding over the case in Springfield.
A British man faces spending the remainder of his life behind bars after receiving a 42-year sentence in an American federal prison for child sexual exploitation offences
Greater Manchester Police
The international investigation revealed that West and an unnamed accomplice created fraudulent social media profiles posing as women to target and deceive underage boys.
Once the victims responded to these fake accounts, West would threaten to expose them unless they provided additional explicit images.
The United States Attorney’s Office stated that West “knowingly solicit[ed] sexually explicit photos from underage boys in multiple different countries”, with several victims located in central Illinois.
The court determined that the offences involved the “knowing misrepresentation of a participant’s identity to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct”.
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A joint investigation by the US Secret Service and Greater Manchester Police uncovered his involvement in an international scheme targeting young boys
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West’s scheme involved manipulating children across two continents to fulfil his sexual desires.
At the time of the offences, West was employed as a part-time website developer for Christian charity GoChurch Global in Salford Quays.
He was suspended following his arrest when police raided his home in May 2019.
GoChurch founding partner and trustee Alan Morton said: “As soon as we were made aware of the allegations, West was suspended and removed from all positions of responsibility.
He added: “His employment did not involve direct contact with children, youth or vulnerable adults without direct parental or team leader supervision.”
Assistant US Attorney Sarah Seberger ALSO said: “West manipulated and preyed upon children on two continents in his quest to fulfil his own sexual desires.
“This extradition and sentence ensured that his American victims received justice in the United States for his crimes. We will continue to work with law enforcement across the globe to bring justice to victims of abuse.”
Michael Kurzeja, resident agent in charge of the US Secret Service Springfield office, added: “Adults should protect children, not prey upon them online as the predator in this case did to victims in multiple countries. The sentencing in this case reflects the heinousness of this man’s insidious actions to threaten and harm kids.”