This is the sexual blackmailer jailed on Tuesday after subjecting women he met online to a “nightmarish ordeal”.
Cathan Quinn was sentenced to two years and two months after “luring” women into his web, then getting them to share intimate images with him. He then demanded money or more images.
Jailing the 29-year-old, from Magherafelt, Co Derry, the judge at Dungannon Crown Court told Quinn his “motivation was sexual gratification and control of these women”.
The court heard the blackmailer blamed prescription medication and “being used to getting what he wants” for the offending.
And in the wake of his sentencing, the PSNI said it is not the first time they have dealt Quinn, adding that in “2022, the defendant was given a prison sentence for similar offences against a third innocent victim”.
The court also heard how Quinn, from Wesleyann Mews in the town, had his sentence reduced due to delays as the PPS took three years to decide whether to progress the case or not.
Dungannon Crown Court heard Quinn’s offending against both women occurred simultaneously between January and April 2021 and while under investigation for similar previous behaviour.
He targeted the first victim, who was completely unknown to him, through online contact and after communicating for several weeks, requested images.
She “eventually capitulated” and the following day after deleting Quinn from her social media he contacted her via Snapchat issuing threats and stating, “Biggest mistake you’ve ever made”.
He gave her a deadline to add him back online or the image would go viral, then sent her an email demanding £100 to stop that happening.
The victim reported this to police and the court heard she suffered “suffocating shame and guilt” as a result of what occurred.
The second victim was known to Quinn through another relationship and he contacted her by Snapchat offering to pay her for explicit images.
She blocked him but he contacted her on WhatsApp threatening to leak material if she did not unblock him. He also demanded she make an explicit video and under duress, she complied, the court heard.
Eventually she agreed to meet Quinn with a view to him not posting any further material and never contacting her again. He didn’t turn up but again tried to arrange to meet for sex and in the meantime demanded more images.
However she reported the matter to police and the court heard the offending caused her to drop out of university and she had been left embarrassed, ashamed, scared and humiliated.
Quinn blamed his offending on alcohol, medication and being used to getting what he wants.
Judge Sherrard told him: “Your motivation was sexual gratification and control of these women. You are responsible for their humiliation. To compromise someone’s privacy is particularly concerning and blackmail goes well beyond what is known as ‘revenge porn’.
“You have a poor record including sending menacing messages and posting explicit images of a woman online.”
Pre-sentence reports found Quinn presents as, “highly likely to reoffend due to lack of insight and empathy”.
Judge Sherrard added: “Blackmail attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment which indicates the seriousness with which both Parliament and society treat this kind of offending. It is rightly regarded with loathing and contempt. While working as coroner, I saw the tragedy of people having to deal with the outcomes.”
He told Quinn: “You employed a system of luring these women in and seeking to control them. They were vulnerable by the very nature of the imagery being so damaging. The desperation of one of them shown by the lengths she was willing to go in order to appease and stop you was striking.”
Originally handing down a sentence of two years and eight months, Judge Sherrard accepted there had been extensive delay in progressing the case with the PPS taking almost three years to decide on whether to proceed or not.
He therefore reduced the sentence to two years and two months, to be evenly split between custody and on licence. The Judge ruled all seized material to be destroyed.
Restraining Orders were also granted for five years, banning Quinn from contacting the victims.
In the wake of the sentencing, PSNI Detective Inspector Ryan said: “Using social media platforms, the defendant cajoled his victims into sharing intimate images. He then blackmailed both women, threatening to post the images online unless demands for money were met.
“Both victims have suffered terribly throughout this nightmarish ordeal. It’s hard to truly imagine the trauma they have endured, and I am grateful to both for finding the courage to come forward and speak to us. Your support has been invaluable.”
Detective Inspector Ryan added: “Today’s sentencing relates to our investigation into the online blackmail of two females. This, however, is not Quinn’s only offence of this nature.
“On 21 April in 2022, the defendant was given a prison sentence for similar offences against a third innocent victim, who also found the courage to speak to police.”
The detective said: “I hope this sends out a very clear message to anyone who would seek to exploit and threaten others. Let me assure you, you can’t hide behind a computer or mobile screen. Rather, you will be identified and investigated. And you will be held to account.”