WARNING DISCUSSES SUICIDE: Dubbed 'the world's worst catfish', Alexander McCartney posed as a young girl to befriend others on Snapchat - before blackmailing them with intimate photos they shared

Alexander McCartney is believed to be the UK’s most prolific catfishers.

Alexander McCartney admitted 185 charges involving 70 children

The 26-year-old groomed teenagers online by pretending to be a girl of a similar age, the court heard. One of his victims, a 12-year-old girl, took her own life while they were in contact.

Alexander McCartney (26) has admitted 185 charges involving 70 child victims.

BBC News NI looks at the some of the victims behind the man dubbed the UK's most prolific catfisher.

An online predator who drove one of his catfish victims in the US to take her own life has been jailed for at least 20 years.

Cimarron’s heartbroken father, Ben, died by suicide 18 months later, not knowing what had caused his daughter to take her own life

Alexander McCarthy would pose a young girl to befriend other girls on Snapchat. Once they sent him photographs he would blackmail them and threaten to reveal them online or to their families

McCartney, who posed as a teenage girl to befriend young females on Snapchat before blackmailing them, is believed to be the UK’s most prolific catfish offender with victims identified across the world

The judge today said McCartney ‘rationalised his abuse by pretending that his victims were not real’.

Alexander McCartney admitted 185 charges involving 70 children

Alexander McCartney has admitted 185 charges involving 70 children, although a court has previously been told that the real number of victims is much higher.

Twelve-year-old Cimarron Thomas from West Virginia in the US took her own life in May 2018 after she was blackmailed by Alexander McCartney.

A 26-year-old Armagh man who was the subject of one of the largest investigations in the world into the sexual extortion of children has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl and more than 180 other offences relating to child abuse.

Madame Pelicot could have insisted that the films and images her husband captured, grisly trophies of his utter depravity, were never shown in court. If she had, no woman would have blamed her.

An online predator from Northern Ireland who drove one of his catfish victims in the US to take her own life is set to be sentenced.

Sue and Noel Radford were heartbroken in 2014 when their son, Alfie, was stillborn. They have shared how other parents who suffered loss can apply for certificates from the government.

Tragic death of Malayali girl due to dowry harassment, leaving behind a heartbreaking voice message for her family.