Nigerian Predator Sentenced for Online Child Exploitation
A 25-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for systematically grooming and sexually abusing seven young boys through social media platforms. Barthimaus Ehiemere used Snapchat and other applications to target victims as young as 12 years old, posing as a wealthy musician with business interests in Dubai.
Deceptive Online Persona and Abuse Pattern
Ehiemere created an elaborate fake identity to lure his victims, presenting himself as a successful trombonist operating a camel business in Dubai. He used this fabricated wealth to offer money in exchange for explicit images and videos from the boys. Court documents revealed he shared posts with captions specifically targeting children aged 12-16, including messages like "Ages 12-16, gay, let's be friends" and "Paying for nudes."
The prosecution detailed how Ehiemere lavished one 16-year-old victim with cash before sexually abusing him. He escalated his crimes to raping two 12-year-old boys, recording one assault in a park and another in a cinema toilet. The disturbing footage was circulated among other victims, adding to their trauma.
Criminal History and Depraved Behavior
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Ehiemere admitted to 32 separate offences, including rape of a child under 13 and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. He had previously been subject to restrictions after being caught with indecent images of children but circumvented monitoring using special browsers.
Prosecutors revealed disturbing search terms found on his devices, including "young boy rape review" and descriptions of raping a 12-year-old as the "best sex ever." Authorities discovered 1,600 indecent images in his possession, with half categorized as Category A - the most severe classification depicting penetrative abuse.
Victim Impact and Family Connections
Victims described the psychological toll of Ehiemere's manipulation. One survivor testified: "Subconsciously I knew something was wrong. I started to feel more and more used... I finally broke down and told my parents. It took me a long time to realise I was a child and realised it wasn't my fault." Another victim said the experience left him viewing the world as "inherently unsafe."
The case revealed disturbing family connections, with Ehiemere's younger brother, Richard, linked to 'CVLT' - a neo-Nazi pedophile cult that exploited young girls online. Richard received a suspended sentence earlier this year for his involvement.
Police Response and Public Appeal
Detective Constable Lindsey Luscombe of the Met's Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation team praised the bravery of the survivors who came forward. She described Ehiemere as "one of the most prolific and depraved sexual predators we have seen in recent years" and highlighted his dangerous pattern of online grooming.
Police have launched an appeal for additional victims to come forward, urging anyone targeted by Ehiemere through Snapchat or Spotafriend to contact authorities quoting Operation Teigar. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify all potential victims of this systematic abuse operation.
